IRISH KIDS’ ONLINE SEX ABUSE HORROR
»»Garda chief warns parents of blackmail »»Harris pledges to tackle web predators
IRISH children are being tricked into sexually abusing siblings or friends live on video, the Garda Commissioner warned yesterday.
Drew Harris said the youngsters were being blackmailed by vile online predators.
He added: “Regrettably, very regrettably, that’s a feature of this. A child is intimidated, coerced into live abuse, perhaps of a sibling or younger friend, and that’s part actually of the coercion and abuse of the child.”
He also revealed the blackmailers often sold the abuse images to other perverts – and he appealed to parents to be more vigilant about their children’s online activities.
The Commissioner was speaking at a meeting with the Policing Authority.
He revealed his officers had dealt with 25 Irish youngsters being abused online in the first three months of this year alone.
And he warned online child sexual abuse was now a major problem.
Mr Harris said: “This should be of great societal concern. Children are being targeted through the internet, be it through social media, be it through gaming sites. They’re being targeted by predators who build up a relationship and then turn that relationship into one of abuse through coercion and blackmail – and then blackmail and threaten that child to bring
other individuals into this offending and abuse as well.” Mr Harris also revealed that in 2024 alone, the Us-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent over 10,000 reports of child sex abuse material to gardai – a 300% increase.
He said: “It is of major concern. I think it is far more prevalent than people realise. We reported on the huge increase in reporting made to us of online sexual abuse, and it should be of concern.
“This requires a global response really from law enforcement. And we in An Garda Siochana here in Ireland want to do our utmost to prevent this crime, detect offenders who may be here in Ireland but also play our part to identify victims who may also be in Ireland as well.
“I think just the prevalence of social media, the number of children, more and more children who have access to smart devices and social media in particular, mean the risks are greater.”
Meanwhile, Mr Harris confirmed he had asked detectives to revisit the probe into the 1981 Stardust fire – after last week’s inquest findings all 48 victims were unlawfully killed.