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Paedophile's site used by schools Paedophile's site used by schools
(about 3 hours later)
The Department of Education is to hold an investigation into why a website owned by a convicted sex offender was made available to teachers in NI.The Department of Education is to hold an investigation into why a website owned by a convicted sex offender was made available to teachers in NI.
The Sparklebox website, which is used to support primary school teachers, was blocked by a number of English regional authorities.The Sparklebox website, which is used to support primary school teachers, was blocked by a number of English regional authorities.
It was made available in NI through a government website called C2K, on behalf of the five education boards.It was made available in NI through a government website called C2K, on behalf of the five education boards.
Minister Catriona Ruane said she was treating the issue "very seriously".Minister Catriona Ruane said she was treating the issue "very seriously".
C2k is managed by staff at the Western Education and Library Board, who only decided to block Sparklebox last Monday following a complaint from a parent. C2k is managed by staff at the Western Education and Library Board.
Ms Ruane told the assembly she remained to be convinced that the response was proportionate and timely.Ms Ruane told the assembly she remained to be convinced that the response was proportionate and timely.
Sparklebox's owner Samuel Kinge, 28, from Evesham in Kent, was given 12 months in jail last month January after being found guilty of making and possessing indecent images of children. Sparklebox's owner Samuel Kinge, 28, from Evesham in Kent, was given 12 months in jail last month after being found guilty of making and possessing indecent images of children.
Kinge, who was known as Daniel Kinge before changing his name by deed poll, had also been jailed for nine months in 2005 for downloading images of children being abused from the internet while working at a Warwickshire school.Kinge, who was known as Daniel Kinge before changing his name by deed poll, had also been jailed for nine months in 2005 for downloading images of children being abused from the internet while working at a Warwickshire school.
Following his sentencing in January, a spokeswoman for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceops) said it felt schools could use the site.Following his sentencing in January, a spokeswoman for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceops) said it felt schools could use the site.
"Ceops feels that schools can resume use of this website in line with their normal risk assessment and management processes and in consultation with local authorities," she said."Ceops feels that schools can resume use of this website in line with their normal risk assessment and management processes and in consultation with local authorities," she said.
The Sparklebox teaching and parenting resource website was used in thousands of schools.The Sparklebox teaching and parenting resource website was used in thousands of schools.
'Worrying interactivity''Worrying interactivity'
It was blocked in some areas of the UK after internet safety officials discovered who was running it and found that there had been some "worrying interactivity".It was blocked in some areas of the UK after internet safety officials discovered who was running it and found that there had been some "worrying interactivity".
It led officials responsible for ensuring the safety of internet technology in schools in south-west England to block the site.It led officials responsible for ensuring the safety of internet technology in schools in south-west England to block the site.
Once the officials had taken the decision to block schools' access to Sparklebox, they alerted the 11 other regional Grids for Learning across the UK.Once the officials had taken the decision to block schools' access to Sparklebox, they alerted the 11 other regional Grids for Learning across the UK.
It was then down to each grid to decide whether to block the site in their schools.It was then down to each grid to decide whether to block the site in their schools.
Grids including London, Northern, Cumbria and Lancashire also blocked the site. At least one grid decided not to block the website.Grids including London, Northern, Cumbria and Lancashire also blocked the site. At least one grid decided not to block the website.
However, the full reasons for the block were not revealed until Kinge appeared in court in December because of fears over prejudicing the case against him.However, the full reasons for the block were not revealed until Kinge appeared in court in December because of fears over prejudicing the case against him.