Victoria Haddock

Lady Portia Di’Monte was one of the two drag performers running the family-friendly event at Holywood Arches Library in Belfast as part of the EastSide Arts Festival.

PSNI officers were forced to escort the performers to safety after the event was disrupted by protesters.

Phoenix Law said footage of the incident has since circulated on social media, accompanied by damaging and defamatory commentary.

Solicitor Victoria Haddock said: “Since the event, our client has been subjected to a campaign of online abuse, including highly serious and defamatory allegations.

“These claims, made by various online groups, platforms, and individuals, are entirely unfounded, malicious, and constitute a deliberate effort to harm our client’s reputation.

“The suggestion that drag performance in this context poses any risk to children is baseless and harmful.

“We have now been instructed to initiate legal proceedings against all those responsible for publishing defamatory material, and to examine whether any criminal offences have been committed.”