A shocking Prime Time Investigates programme this week, which provided a scandalous exposé of online criminals who share images of child rape and abuse, has identified Mayo as one of the counties where many such images are being downloaded. Entitled Evil Online the programme listed locations including Balla, Ballina, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, and Westport as areas where individuals accessed such abuse images.
According to John Buckley, an ISPCC advocacy and volunteer co-ordinator based in Castlebar, this horrific abuse of children is “happening in our own backyard”.
Castlebar Superintendent Willie Keaveney told the Mayo Advertiser that the very technical investigation behind such behaviour is monitored by a specialised central investigations unit who then liaise with gardaí in the various districts. To allay fears in Mayo, Supt Keaveney said that the bottom line is that parents need to have a hands-on approach in monitoring and supervising their children’s activity on the internet.
Reporter Edel McAllister for RTE’s Prime Time revealed that an alarming number of Irish people play a role in downloading child pornography and creating and circulating pictures worldwide. The programme also showed how children are contacted online by men who are grooming potential victims and asking children to send on pictures to them.
According to the Garda Press Office, “Numerous individuals have been convicted of various child pornography offences right throughout the country”.
“The Paedophile Investigation Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation deals with online child abuse cases and works together with the Computer Crime Investigation Unit and selected gardaí throughout the country,” a spokesperson added.
An Garda Síochána is also attached to the Trafficking in Human Beings Section of Interpol specialising in crimes against children, as this is a “crime which transcends borders”. An Garda Síochána also has a close working relationship with the Centre for Cyber Crime Investigation at UCD.
ISPCC’s John Buckley said that “strong legislative action is needed” to ensure perpetrators receive tough sentences instead of suspended sentences being “dished out”. Mr Buckley also said that, after a conviction, mandatory post-supervision needs to be conducted. The ISPCC spokesperson added that more robust international co-operation is needed, and that parents need to be aware of the risks attached of letting their children go online without supervision.
The ISPCC is again urging children and parents to follow the Safe Click Code which promotes the safer use of surfing online:
Select the privacy settings which are available on your toolbar, this will keep the information between you and your friends.
Always use a first name or nickname. Don’t give out personal information online and be honest about your age — membership rules are there to protect you. If you are too young to sign up to a site it means the site isn’t appropriate for you.
Engage with people you know — don’t engage with anyone you don’t know or don’t trust.
Check your phone’s handbook — if you’re being bullied by phone check your phone to see if you can block numbers.
Let a trusted adult go with you if you arrange to meet anyone online.
Information you upload can be downloaded by anyone online — think before posting and never post something you wouldn’t be happy for everyone to see.
Change your phone number/email address if you are being bullied by phone or online.
Keep your identity private — don’t give out your name, address, phone number, school name, passwords, etc, or send photos; you might not always know who you are chatting to.
