Cllr Brian Tierney says 12-year-old girl targeted by online predator
SDLP Derry and Strabane District Councillor Brian Tierney has urged parents and schools to ensure children are aware of the dangers of social media sites.
Councillor Tierney made the appeal after being contacted by local parents whose 12 year-old girl was sent pictures of a sexual nature by an adult male via the smart phone app Oovoo.
“I’ve been contacted by the parents of a 12 year-old girl in Derry who was targeted by sexual predator on Oovoo.
“The girl’s parents told me that they intercepted a message from a man in his 30s.
“On further inspection they found that the man had already connected with their daughter and had sent pictures of himself which were of a sexual nature and asked her to do the same.
“I’ve been told of other local families who have had similar shocking experiences in recent times.
“This is every parents nightmare and it is vital that everything that can be done is done to ensure our children are protected online from sexual predators or others with ill intent.
“The disgustingly worrying approach to this child highlights the importance of appropriate action to ensure all of our children are made aware of the risks posed by social media.
“We all have a role to play in protecting our children from being targeted online whether that be in schools or in the home.
“The terrible loss of 17 year-old Ronan Hughes in Coalisland shows the grave dangers faced by our young people when exposed to online criminals.
“We need to ensure that we do all we can to ensure that no other family is faced with such a devastating situation.”
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