Pete Kernoghan

UEFA B Diploma Day 4🗓️ We were delighted to have Martin O’Neill join us today to share his experiences and the story of how he embarked on his coaching journey with our coaches. #IrishFACoachEd #CoachingJourney

It is unfair and unjust that survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking are having to wait this long for decisions over their stability and future. Read more here: hopeforjustice.org/news/trafficki…

In at least some cases, these are children. This is grooming and exploitation. It has no place in any community at any time.

Headline sentence of 12 years for #childtrafficking offence in Ireland breakingnews.ie/ireland/man-ja…

This type of crime occurs all too often in the UK. More effective protection measures & investigations are necessary. Children must be protected from gangs without question. @ECPATUK @MECPATHS @save_children bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

Good to see everyone back discussing the important issues facing our society.

Incredible achievement by Aaron, who completed his 365th consecutive daily marathon today, raising money and awareness for the issue of human trafficking. theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2…

Hugely disappointed to hear tonight that The Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 has been passed and will become law in Ireland. A Legislative initiative which relies on a groomed child to provide testimony against the person who groomed them in order for the state to secure a prosecution. A prosecution-centric law which places children in grave harm and at-risk of further abuse and exploitation #ChildTrafficking in Ireland pushed further underground by government #Justice #NoJustice

Human trafficking is now a major problem in Northern Ireland Catherine Morrison reports 🔻

Three arrests as PSNI targets group trafficking young women for sexual exploitation

#Modernslavery is too big of a problem for one person or organisation. We all have a role to play. Never underestimate the impact of your contribution - big or small. To find out how you can get involved, head to our website.

Good to share at @QUBelfast Medical College today with 5th year medics about their role as frontline professionals in spotting the signs of #modernslavery and #HumanTrafficking @Hopeforjustice

Hope for Justice absolutely rejects the #IllegalMigrationBill and urges the Government to #StopTheBill hopeforjustice.org/news/illegal-m…

Are #NI young people being failed by our lack of ability to separate criminality from paramilitarism? Updated legislation in Republic of Ireland makes it a criminal offence to groom a child into criminality. gov.ie/en/press-relea…

Delighted to hear from @northyorksc Children and Families Services team, who received our training, and used it to ensure a vulnerable individual was safeguarded and protected. “It was clear that the practitioner had remembered their #ModernSlaveryAwareness training...

This is why we see so many abusers essentially hide in plain sight. They are master manipulators, shaping opinions and systems to a place were they are revered and above reproach.

Some of the levels of manipulation and coercion that exploiters use to control their victims. • Power imbalance • Spiritual Abuse • Positions of societal trust Often the signs of these are difficult to identify within accepted cultural norms. thenational.scot/news/national/…

@SarahJaynePom It’s a Pandora’s box that no one wants open

@pete_t_k Absolutely! I once read one of the earliest research papers on modern slavery in Northern Ireland & it said there is no connection between modern slavery & paramilitaries. I was just like...hmm...maybe the dynamics hadn't been fully fleshed out yet??!!

The Home Office defines child criminal exploitation as 'where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18'

@SarahJaynePom Yeah, but also the terminology of paramilitary organisation, as if the main function of these groups is forwarding a political agenda through violence. But in all reality these groups are organised crime gangs more likened to the mafia whose main focus is on control and money.

@pete_t_k Ah OK, so the glamorising of joining the paramilitaries etc which is used to get teens to sign up and get involved in criminal activity? Definitely a big problem on both sides.

@SarahJaynePom Primarily the Protestant and Catholic divides in Northern Ireland and everything that is wrapped in those divisions.

@pete_t_k Sorry for not connecting this immediately...what political and religious ideals are you referring to? I'm doing a PhD on use of religion in exploiting victims of modern slavery so interested to hear your perspective!