Protecting children - Parents are responsible

THIS Christmas very many parents will give children gifts that will allow them to exploit the wonders of the internet and the joys of modern communications.

They would do well to heed yesterday’s warning on cyberbullying from Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.

He encouraged parents to report inappropriate internet approaches made to their children to the gardaí in an effort to confront this most insidious crime.

Mr Ahern also stated the obvious: that parents are responsible for their children’s welfare and that they have a duty to be aware of what their children do online. He correctly pointed out that pleading ignorance is not an acceptable defence if your children are in jeopardy.