Email told pupils their throats would be slit

SCHOOLS and parents have been urged to ensure young children are fully aware of the internet’s dangers after a group of 11-year-old girls were emailed anonymous messages claiming their throats would be slit.

The violent message was sent to three fifth class students at St Aidan’s primary school in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, on Monday.

In a graphic threat, it warned that the email’s recipients would be killed unless they forwarded the message, claiming their throats and wrists would be slashed and their eyeballs removed if they did not comply.

It is believed to have been targeted at children and warned those who failed to pass on the message that they or their family would be harmed.

“You must send this on or you will be killed tonight at 12pm by Bloody Mary. This is no joke.

“She will slit your throat and your wrists, and then hang your dead corpse in your bedroom cupboard,” the email read.

St Aidan’s principal Peter Creedon said the general substance of the message was similar to many schoolyard threats.

However, he added that the fact it was sent to the girls’ three private email accounts by an unknown sender had caused the 11-year-old pupils “a lot of distress”.

“The first girl who received it was quite upset to be fair to her. She was very worried.

“We have since spoken to all our pupils in fifth and sixth class, more than 200 pupils, about the dangers of anonymous messages.

“We have a restricted use of emails in our school, but over half of pupils would have emails they use in their own time,” Mr Creedon said.

Rita O Reilly, chief executive of family support group Parent Line, said the matter underlined concerns over internet child safety.

“Messages like that are bullying, like any other kind of bullying, and need to be taken seriously.

“You can’t stop all of it, but parents need to encourage their children to be open with them, and must make sure to keep family computers in a living room or other open space,” she said.

Gardaí in Enniscorthy have received a number of complaints from parents of primary school pupils in relation to the email.

A spokesperson said the message, described as a chain letter, was “fairly menacing in tone”.