LOCKDOWN BULLY HELL

More than quarter of Irish children victims of online abuse

- JAMES WARD

MORE than a quarter of Irish children have been targeted by cyber bullies during lockdown.

A joint study by the European Commission and Dublin City University found case rates here to be among the highest in Europe.

And younger children were the most likely to become victims.

Dr Tijana Milosevic described Ireland’s figures as “worrying” with results higher than in previous studies. The worst rates were found in Ireland, Italy and Germany.

The research also showed the problem to be particularly prevalent in boys.

Dr Milosevic, of the National AntiBullying Research and Resource Centre, added: “Irish children are among the top frequency numbers in Europe that we have. That is worrying in and of itself.