Threats of sexual violence made online in Stormont meeting

Swastikas, genitals and threats of sexual violence towards children were posted during a Stormont meeting for parents of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it is investigating the incident.

The meeting was held in Parliament Buildings in Stormont and attended by parents, young people and MLAs.

BBC News NI has heard that an individual who had joined remotely online posted an explicit image and messages which threatened sexual violence on children.

A Zoom link was provided for those who could not attend in person due to caring responsibilities.

The meeting was organised by the SEN Reform NI and Caleb's Cause NI organisations.

Led by parents, the two organisations have campaigned for better educational provision for children and young people with SEN.

Caleb's Cause NI has called for more support for school leavers with SEN.

Sen Reform NI, meanwhile, has brought together parents to raise issues about school places and other support for children with SEN.

The title of the meeting, held on Monday in Stormont's Long Gallery, was "Equity in Education."

It was to launch the results of a study the two organisations had carried out into the challenges for families of children with SEN based on responses from parents and carers.

The meeting was attended by parents, some young people, a number of MLAs and also organisations who support children and adults with disabilities, while remote access was also available.

Fiona Cole, who had helped with the event at Stormont, called what had happened a "hate crime".

She said the Zoom had been launched when the event started at 17:00 (BST).

"At about five past five a person with an alias called Gemma came on to the zoom and showed a profile picture of his genitals," Ms Cole told BBC News NI's Evening Extra programme.

"He then hijacked the whiteboard function on the Zoom and started to create some seriously disturbing content.

"He included drawing genitals, swastikas, and unfortunately then continued to write horrific messages of sexual content towards the children.

"When we were made aware that this was happening, unfortunately we had to close that event as it was now a safeguarding issue."

Ms Cole said that around 120 people attended the event in person and 46 people on Zoom.

She said that as far as the organisers were aware, no children had seen the pictures or messages, but SEN Reform NI and Caleb's Cause NI had reached out to "check on the wellbeing" of those who attended online.

"It was disturbing and it has left some people very, very vulnerable, very worried," she said. "It has an impact on everybody."

She said people were "really shocked that somebody would do this to an event that has literally been designed to elevate the voices of people with learning disabilities and Special Educational Needs".

Ms Cole said some parents who had organised the meeting "couldn't even get in the car to drive today because they were so shaken".

She said, though, that the organisations would "learn from this as well" and may have to restrict online access to meetings in future.

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon said what happened was "devastating for organisers".

"This is about better provision for children with special educational needs and what was on that Zoom was offensive and actually illegal," she said.

"It was extremely offensive and very, very distressing."

Ms Dillon added that it was "difficult" for organisers to manage when Zoom calls are opened to the public.

"The responsibility for what happened last night is entirely on the individual that carried out this abusive behaviour," Ms Dillon said.

In a joint statement after the incident, SEN Reform NI and Caleb's Cause NI issued an apology for the incident, calling what had happened "absolutely disgusting".

In a subsequent statement to BBC News NI, SEN Reform NI and Caleb's Cause NI said "parents and children with special educational needs were victimised and subject to abuse from an individual who, without authorisation, accessed a community Zoom call".

"An individual chose to violate the sanctity of the group and has been reported to the PSNI," it added.

The PSNI said a report of indecent exposure online in the east Belfast area has been received at around 12:00 (BST) on Tuesday.

A spokesperson said enquiries are ongoing and have asked for anyone with information that could assist police to contact them.