Threesomes article ‘not appropriate’
He was commenting on an article on the youth website SpunOut.ie on the involvement of a third person in a sexual encounter.
“From my personal point of view, as a doctor and also as a politician, I just think this is not the appropriate sort of information that the State should be putting out there,” he said.
Dr Reilly said he had contacted HSE officials about the issue. “They are aware of the problem and they are going to review it. I think the people who own the site themselves are concerned that the editorial was an oversight and are looking into it.”
The independent youth-led charity receives €124,000 from the HSE annually — about 30% of its overall funding. It is also a beneficiary of funding from Atlantic Philanthropies.
Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin described the advice as “incredibly regressive” and “very worrying”.
CARI, which provides therapy to children who have experienced sexual abuse, said the article failed to explore the implications of becoming involved in a threesome, particularly the risk of being exposed through gossip and social media.
The website has defended the advice, saying it does not encourage teenagers to engage in threesomes but informs them of the reasons why they may or may not enjoy the experience.
Ian Power, spokesman for SpunOut.ie, said the threesomes article was just one sexual health article alongside information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, healthy and positive relationships, and safer sex.
Mr Power said young people were asked last weekend about whether the website should provide information on threesomes.
“The young people we spoke to believed it is important to share factual and balanced information on threesomes but that the language used in the SpunOut.ie article could be improved.”
He said the article had now been edited to ensure the language was focused on safer sex, contraception, and respect. A number of words, including “shenanigans” and “spiced up” have been edited out.
The website crashed on Sunday, and again yesterday, when the article was highlighted in the media.
The charity has invited Ms Mulherin to meet their team in their Dublin offices.
