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Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Nearly 800 children contacted Childline on Christmas Day

Volunteers with the charity answered 793 calls, online contacts and texts from children yesterday.

NEARLY 800 CHILDREN contacted Childline on Christmas Day this year. 

Volunteers with the charity answered 793 calls, online contacts and texts from children yesterday. 

Childline runs a 24-hour listening service for children and young people, with 42 volunteers working yesterday to respond to contacts from children. 

Last year, the charity received 1,267 contacts from children and young people on Christmas Day.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

John Church, the CEO of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said that Christmas Day was an “upsetting time for many”. 

“Many who expected to enjoy the day awoke to a very different scene from that which they had imagined. Tensions can be heightened at this time of year and often children are left feeling frightened, or alone,” he said. 

“We are hugely grateful to each of those who give up their time with their own loved ones throughout the holiday season to be there for children who seek support,” he added. 

Some of the children who contacted Childline yesterday told the charity that they were feeling distressed because of anxiety, grief, loneliness and substance abuse in their homes.

Volunteers also received messages from children who wanted to thank the charity for its support throughout the year.

Childline can be contacted by phone 24 hours a day at 1800 66 66 66, while online chat and text services can be contacted between 10am and 4am by visiting Childline.ie or texting to 50101.

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    Mute SillyBilly
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:09 PM

    What did I just frickin read!!!

    574
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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:38 PM

    That’s it, I’m laying off the rum for a while.

    148
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    Mute Al Ca
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    Sep 4th 2015, 11:28 PM

    But with the rum it make sense.

    113
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    Mute Missyb211
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:13 PM

    lol. this is obviously a promo for xnthony

    495
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    Mute samdithers
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:36 PM

    I felt some sympathy until I read his name was xnthony Enough said..

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    Mute Therightman2015
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:09 PM

    Conveniently it gets him his 5 seconds of fame

    305
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    Mute Jamie Jj Tobin
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:17 PM

    Everyone in Europe should build a shed in there living room…. migrant housing crisis solved!

    146
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    Mute Dave Nolan
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:31 PM

    Was interested in hearing about the conditions of London “apartments” having looked for one myself not too long ago (one actually looked like Bag End from The Lord of The Rings) only to see it promoting Xnthony (?!). There’s no place for this promotion on this type of story.

    Also, on an unrelated note, don’t forget to watch X-Factor this weekend on ITV… and only on ITV…

    129
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    Mute little jim
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    Sep 5th 2015, 12:22 AM

    Is it not A-Factor now, just to keep with the theme.

    51
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    Mute Phil Clarke
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:26 PM

    I’ve hotboxed that shed. No word of a lie.

    125
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    Mute Cynical Samwidge
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    Sep 4th 2015, 10:09 PM

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah fkn capitalism hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah humans lol hahaahahahahahhahahaha

    107
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    Mute Benny McHale
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    Sep 5th 2015, 1:07 AM

    Can they not squat any more? When I lived in London in the 80s, all the Irish lads lived in empty council flats. All you had to do was change the lock and open an electricity account and you were legit. If they wanted you out badly enough they’d take you to court but as there was a 7 year backlog on squatter eviction cases you’d have moved on long before then.

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    Mute Daniel Carry
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    Sep 5th 2015, 4:28 AM

    How do ya even pronounce Xnthony?

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Sep 6th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Cu-nt

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    Mute The Guru
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    Sep 5th 2015, 1:39 AM

    Why does anyone want to live in London? Great for visit but living there I think would be hell.

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    Mute paddy Jennings
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    Sep 4th 2015, 11:43 PM

    at this rate my attic is a semi detached house ffs….!

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    Mute John Condon
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    Sep 4th 2015, 11:59 PM

    I’ve slept in worse.

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Sep 5th 2015, 3:25 AM

    awful place to try to live in. . . noise…violence. .poverty. ..18 years experience there

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Sep 5th 2015, 8:13 PM

    and that was only in the shed!!!

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    Mute Mark Jones
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    Sep 5th 2015, 7:03 AM

    My wife puts me in there for punishment. The dog house. Ruf,ruf

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