A leading Donegal GAA club has slammed online bullying and in particular the use of the ask.fm website.
Erin Gallagher
Termon GAA Club said it will not tolerate anybody who uses offensive comments through it’s Facebook page.
The club says we have already seen the devastation such bullying can do to children in Co Donegal.
In October, Ballybofey schoolgirl Erin Gallagher, 13, took her own life amidst claims that she was being bullied online.
It has since emerged that three girls originally blamed online for the bullying were innocent – and they themselves were bullied.
In a hard-hitting statement issued on its Facebook page, Termon GAA Club says it is the club’s policy to remove and block friends who use insulting or offensive comments about other Facebook users.
“This is due entirely to the reputation of ask.fm and the terrible price some children have paid for using it.
“The pain and devastation caused to the families of those who have taken their lives due to online bullying is unacceptable to us at Termon GAA.
“If you wish to continue using ask.fm and making foul comments about others, please remove them from our home page as we do not wish to be party to them.
“We will have no hesitation in naming and shaming those continue to bully online. We will also report you to facebook and the relevant authorities,” warns a spokesman for Termon GAA club.
The following is a further reply from Termon GAA Club in relation to a number of comments left on Donegal Daily today.
“In reply to the Letterkenny posts in particular, this is not an internal problem at our club thank God. It is a problem nationwide and a growing one at that. It is up to us adults to police our own homepages as neither facebook or ask.fm seem willing to do so. We did not put up our post in haste, indeed did so only after weeks of careful scrutiny on our homepage. The young lady who was removed from our site posted very hurtful and offensive comments regarding the appearance of another girl. As she named this unfortunate girl for all her peers to see we feel she should have no right to anonymity. We asked her to remove these comments several times, which she refused to do, only then did we block her. As we stated before, this conduct is totally unacceptable to us and we would ask all GAA clubs across Ireland to join with us in protecting our young members. Thank you very much for your comments, whether you agreed or disagreed with us. It is only by discussing this huge online problem that we will find a solution. Meanwhile we stand by our statement and if you visit our site you will discover we are providing helpline numbers, and links to anti bullying sites. It is the wish of Termon GAA that no child will feel abandoned or left defenseless to the cruelty of bullying. We will provide any help and total anonymity to any child or parent who wishes to contact us. Thank you.
Termon GAA facebook.
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