Sandra Overend, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, has offered her sympathies to the family of Coalisland teenager, Ronan Hughes, who took his own life at the weekend.
Mrs Overend, who sits on the Education Committee, said,
“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Ronan Hughes, who took his own life at the weekend in tragic circumstances.
“Although the details surrounding the circumstances of Ronan’s death are not yet fully known, it is suspected that he was bullied on the internet, having been tricked into posting images onto a social network site.
“Even though Ronan reported cyber-bullying to PSNI and his parents, he was still driven to take his own life. A close-knit community has been torn apart highlighting in the starkest possible way, the constant threat posed by cyber-bullying to our young people.
"For two years I have lobbied the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in an effort to persuade them to bring forward a cross-departmental internet safety strategy. They are well aware that there are gaps in the delivery of internet safety advice within government departments and this, plus a lack of consistent advice for parents means that children across Northern Ireland are still under threat.
“My sincere sympathies again go out to the family and friends of Ronan Hughes. He has been robbed of his future; his family has been robbed of a loving son; and the community has been robbed of a warm and popular sportsman. It is indeed a tragedy.”