Hello Everyone
Thanks to one of our friends, Maureen, who answered our call for help….we have the story below to share with you…and ask your opinions on….
Thursday, August 20 2009
National News
Probe into sending of child 'sex act' images
By Ralph Riegel
Thursday August 20 2009
TELECOMMUNICATIONS experts are now trying to determine if camera phone images relating to an alleged sex act involving infants were ever transmitted. It emerged earlier this week that Gardaí are investigating allegations that two 12-year-old boys intimidated a four-year-old and five-year-old into performing sex acts and filmed it using their mobile phones. The mother of the four-year-old boy victim of the incident last night demanded that she be immediately re-housed by Cork County Council away from the Mitchelstown area for safety reasons. The woman -- who cannot be identified for legal reasons -- said she is now terrified of allowing her son out to play after what happened. The alleged incidents saw two 12-year-old boys threaten the two younger boys after cornering them in an isolated area. They warned the two youngsters they would be beaten up if they did not perform sex acts on each other. The two terrified youngsters agreed to perform the acts -- and were filmed doing so on one of the boy's camera phones. Gardaí were informed of the matter when the younger boys told their families what had happened -- and a shocked female neighbour of one of the families confirmed she had seen the images on a phone. Two phones were confiscated by gardai from the 12-year-olds -- but neither were found to contain any footage of the alleged act. The handsets have now been sent to Dublin where Gardaí forensic experts will try to recover any deleted images from the phone memories. One Gardaí source stressed that there is no indication whatsoever that images were transmitted from the phones -- but, given the gravity of the alleged incidents, nothing is now being left to chance. The two 12-year-olds are too young to be prosecuted through the courts -- but any adult who received and then transmitted the alleged footage is liable to prosecution under the Trafficking and Child Pornography Act. Specially trained gardai will interview the two 12-year-olds within the next fortnight in liaison with child welfare officers. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is also conducting its own investigation into the allegations. The mother of the four-year-old boy admitted her family has been devastated by the incident -- and she is now terrified to allow her son out to play. The woman also hit out at the fact her son has not been offered counselling over the incident. The HSE has insisted that all appropriate support and counselling services are being offered to those affected by the alleged incident.
This case is very worrying on many levels…not least of all that two 12 year old children are even thinking about behaving in this way! If the allegations against them prove to be true they cannot be prosecuted as they are below the age of criminal responsibility and will instead be placed in the hands of Juvenile Liaison Officers until they reach the age 16 and they will be monitored closely by Health Service Executive officials.
And one can only imagine the effect this will have had on the two younger children…who are only four and five years old…and their families…small wonder that he is no longer going to be allowed out to play…and his family are seeking to be moved… because if these allegations are true…how dreadful would it be for all concerned to continue living within the same area. We sincerely hope that the correct support and care are given to ALL involved in this…because without doubt everyone needs some kind of support here…because if these images exist…and if they have been sent on…then they will exist forever…and THAT is a very sobering thought is it not! Your Friends @ RAPCA Team Ireland