Garda information packs to help parents tackle scourge of cyberbullying

Gardaí in West Cork are to offer guidance on cyberbullying to parents of 1,200 secondary pupils.

Information packs aimed at tackling the teenage scourge will be distributed to the homes of children who are pupils at Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, Schull Community College, and Scoil Phobail Bheara.

Garda Damian White, who came up with the idea, wants to alert parents to cyberbullying and its high- risk consequences.

The community garda said gardaí had investigated some incidents of cyber-bullying in the Bantry area but, fortunately, none had any serious outcome.

He has previously given talks to pupils at the three schools, but decided parents should also be made more aware of the issue.

He said: “Each family is getting booklets from the Office of Internet Safety, along with a covering Garda letter, detailing the various websites and telephone numbers available to help and support.

“This is a very important and relevant topic. The packs were prepared in order for families to familiarise themselves with regard to these issues.”

Gda White said the booklet would give advice to parents on how to view their children’s internet history. The booklets also advise on helping to identify children’s Facebook friends, and how to get filters which will stop anyone accessing inappropriate material.

Gda White said gardaí in the Bantry Garda District had dealt with cyber-bullying in the past.

Although persistent bullying or harassment is an offence, he said gardaí were anxious to resolve cyberbullying on an informal basis once brought to their attention, and this had proved successful in the area.

He said teenagers should remember that gardaí can access mobile phone and internet records. He also advised teenagers that what they post online today may well come back to cause them difficulties in years to come.

Employers can check a person’s past activities on the internet, he said.

“Parents should also ensure that their children use computers in a family room, rather than unsupervised in their own rooms.

“This technology is here to stay and people need to be aware of its uses and the potential damage which can be done. As soon as a child accesses a mobile phone or the internet they need to be educated about them.

“It’s a bit like road safety. It’s not the car that’s the issue but how it’s being driven,” he said.