Gardaí to speak at Masses in Meath on dangers of social media

Gardaí have been invited to speak on the dangers of the internet from the pulpit at Masses to encourage hundreds of students to take a pledge against cyber-bullying for their confirmation.

In a novel move, clergy from the Ashbourne/Donaghmore parish in Co Meath have asked community garda Ashling Connor to speak to the congregations about internet safety at all masses in the area in the coming weeks.

The New Year’s resolution to sign up to an internet safety pledge is part of a new confirmation programme in the parish which ‘tries to deal a little bit more relevant to their [children’s] modern-day lives,” according to parish priest Derek Darby.

Traditionally, sixth-class students are asked to take a pledge to abstain from alcohol until they are 18.

The promise not to cyberbully will be in addition to this facet of the ceremony.

“We’re trying to encourage the 250 children making their confirmation this year in the parish not to abuse their gifts but to use them for the good of others,” said Fr Darby.

“We will be asking them to sign up to an internet safety pledge so they won’t bully or abuse anyone online.”

Well-known biologist Eanna Ní Lamhna will also speak to the classes on environment protection as part of the programme.

Meanwhile, Gda Connor said that, since she began speaking to schoolchildren about the dangers online, calls from worried parents have more than halved.

“My colleagues and I were getting dozens of calls from across the wider Ashbourne area from parents asking for advice on what to do in the event of their children becoming victims in online abuse,” said Gda Connor.

“Some had maybe seen messages or posts on the children’s social media platforms while others would ask in a hypothetical scenario. They just wanted to know what to do in order to nip online abuse in the bud.”

As part of the garda schools programme, Gda Connor and her colleagues talk to classes at schools in Ashbourne, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Laytown, and Mornington on the subject of cyber-bulling and abuse on social media.

“A lot of children don’t realise it’s an offence to post things on the internet,” said Gda Connor. Some put up an embarrassing picture of a classmate as a joke or as a result of a row but they’re not fully aware of the consequences it can have.

“Parents too don’t realise that even the most innocent of games have chat rooms where they could meet someone out to harm them.

“Since we started these talks, the calls to the station from parents have dropped significantly.”

Garda Connor has now launched an internet safety poster for all 5th and 6th classes in the area to raise awareness of the issue.