Catfishing: Snapchat says 'hearts go out' to young victims

The social media giant Snapchat has said its "hearts go out" to the victims of one of the world's largest catfishing investigations.

Alexander McCartney, 25, from County Armagh, pleaded guilty to over 180 charges involving more than 60 child victims, including one of manslaughter.

In a statement, Snapchat described the case as "horrific".

The company said it worked with police and used proactive detection technology.

It also said in a statement it offered confidential in-app reporting tools to prevent this type of abuse.

"We also have extra protections in place for under 18s, including a pop-up warning if they are contacted by someone they don't know, and our Family Centre which allows parents to see who their teens are talking to," a spokesperson added.

On Monday, Belfast Crown Court heard a 12-year-old girl died after she was exploited by McCartney.

She was not from the UK and cannot be named due to law changes in Northern Ireland which extends anonymity to victims of sexual offences to 25 years after their death.

As well as the manslaughter charge, McCartney, from Lissummon Road outside Newry, pleaded guilty to 59 counts of blackmail.

There are also dozens of charges relating to making and distributing indecent photographs and a total of 70 charges of inciting children to engage in sexual activity.

The charges cover a period from 2013 to 2019 with victims being identified in both New Zealand and the USA.

Joanne Barnes, from Nexus, which provides support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse, urged catfishing victims to speak out against their abuse.

"Abuse thrives on silence and that's what perpetrators thrive on," she told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme on Tuesday.

"It's really important to reach out because what we don't want people to do is put a permanent solution on a temporary problem."

Jim Gamble, a former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre, said victims should be given hope that the issue can be dealt with.

"Too many people tell children what goes online stays online," he said.

"That takes away hope and hope is what fuels children through these difficult times."

Mr Gamble said there are "plenty of ways" these issues can be dealt with.

"The key is the sooner you talk to a trusted adult, the sooner something positive can be done and I'm telling you from years of experience in this field, things can be done."