Children exposed to sex education

CHILDREN as young as seven were exposed to graphic sex education pictures at a summer scheme, it emerged yesterday.

Blundering health promotion staff gave out puberty leaflets to youngsters at Dromore Community Centre, Co Down.

As furious parents faced awkward questions, council chiefs in Banbridge demanded to know why brochures were distributed without permission.

Though health bosses apologised, one mother was said to be distraught.

Lagan Valley DUP Edwin Poots said: “This leaflet described, in detail, issues relating to the changes boys go through and showed various pictures of a sensitive nature.

“The parent involved was extremely angry that her seven-year-old son has been exposed to material of this nature without her knowledge or consent.

“This young child has been robbed of its innocence and the mother now had to sit down with her son and explain issues to him that she thought wouldn’t have to be done for a number of years.”

Banbridge Council chief executive Robert Gilmore insisted the Southern Area Health Promotion Department was only asked to give workshops on diet and smoking dangers.

“The manager of that department has been requested to provide a full explanation as to why a member of his staff chose to distribute without permission leaflets which were totally inappropriate for the wide age range of children participating in the scheme.”

The SAHPD confirmed leaflets about puberty were inadvertently on display at the summer scheme in Dromore earlier this month.