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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ronan Hughes: Parents tell of Nigerian blackmail gang | Ronan Hughes: Parents tell of Nigerian blackmail gang |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The parents of a County Tyrone teenager who took his own life have said a Nigerian gang was blackmailing him over intimate photographs. | |
| Gerard and Teresa Hughes said the gang demanded more than £3,000 from their son, Ronan, and then sent images of him to his friends on social media. | |
| Speaking to the Irish News, they criticised police "inaction" after the 17-year-old revealed what was going on. | |
| Police said they hoped to meet the family to discuss their concerns. | |
| Det Ch Supt Brian Hanna said: "Our enquiries are continuing into what will be a complex and protracted investigation, and we will keep the family informed of any progress as appropriate. | |
| "The office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is also best placed to deal with any complaints in relation to police actions." | |
| 'Relentless' | |
| Ronan's parents told the newspaper that his death, less than two weeks ago, could have been prevented. | |
| At the time, it was believed the Coalisland teenager was tricked into posting pictures online, and police said they are investigating whether he was being blackmailed. | At the time, it was believed the Coalisland teenager was tricked into posting pictures online, and police said they are investigating whether he was being blackmailed. |
| Speaking for the first time since their son's death on 5 June, the couple described their son's online blackmailers as "relentless". | Speaking for the first time since their son's death on 5 June, the couple described their son's online blackmailers as "relentless". |
| They said he was being blackmailed over images he posted online after receiving photographs from a girl. | They said he was being blackmailed over images he posted online after receiving photographs from a girl. |
| His mother said: "We want there to be changes so if a child out there is being bullied online they can go to the police or other authorities with their concerns. | His mother said: "We want there to be changes so if a child out there is being bullied online they can go to the police or other authorities with their concerns. |
| "We don't want another family to go through what we've gone through." | "We don't want another family to go through what we've gone through." |
| Ronan's parents told the Irish News that their son, a pupil at St Joseph's Grammar in Donaghmore, had confided in them three days before his death about a fake Facebook account. | Ronan's parents told the Irish News that their son, a pupil at St Joseph's Grammar in Donaghmore, had confided in them three days before his death about a fake Facebook account. |
| He said the blackmailers said they would send the images to his online friends unless he paid £3,300 within 48 hours. | He said the blackmailers said they would send the images to his online friends unless he paid £3,300 within 48 hours. |
| Ronan died just hours after learning that his blackmailers had carried out their threat. | Ronan died just hours after learning that his blackmailers had carried out their threat. |
| 'Worried' | 'Worried' |
| His parents believe he would still be alive if his case had been treated more urgently by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. | His parents believe he would still be alive if his case had been treated more urgently by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. |
| "His biggest worry was that his friends would see these images, " Mr Hughes said. | "His biggest worry was that his friends would see these images, " Mr Hughes said. |
| But when he took his son to Dungannon police station, they were told there was only one officer on duty. | But when he took his son to Dungannon police station, they were told there was only one officer on duty. |
| "A policeman said to us there was very little they could do as he was there on his own that night. | "A policeman said to us there was very little they could do as he was there on his own that night. |
| "He scribbled down a few notes and told us to ignore the blackmail. He told us to come back the next morning. | "He scribbled down a few notes and told us to ignore the blackmail. He told us to come back the next morning. |
| "I knew Ronan was looking for help and I told him that all my son wanted is for these images not to be posted. He told us that he couldn't guarantee that. For Ronan, it was totally dismissive." | "I knew Ronan was looking for help and I told him that all my son wanted is for these images not to be posted. He told us that he couldn't guarantee that. For Ronan, it was totally dismissive." |
| He said if the police had given Ronan an assurance that they would close the site down, he "would still be here today". | |
| They returned to the police station the next day where they spent several hours and Ronan's phone was taken. | They returned to the police station the next day where they spent several hours and Ronan's phone was taken. |
| However, they heard nothing more from the police. | However, they heard nothing more from the police. |
| The Nigerian site was closed within two days of the tragedy. | The Nigerian site was closed within two days of the tragedy. |