The ISPCC has developed a new online reporting tool to tell on bullies. It is part of its annual anti-bullying shield campaign to keep the focus on bullying.

The ISPCC is also urging bystanders to speak up when they see someone being bullied.

Bullying continues to be a very serious issue for young people in Ireland. ISPCC's own National Children's Consultation report in 2011 indicated that 1-in-4 young people had experienced bullying or knew someone who had been bullied.

It can have serious effects on a young person’s mental health, self-esteem and self-worth. The ISPCC says children who contact Childline and the dedicated bullying support service (text 'bully' to 50101) are afraid, embarrassed, confused and suffering from low self-esteem as a result of bullying.

The list of those celebrities who give their support to raise awareness includes Brian O'Driscoll, Colin Farrell, Gary Barlow, Jamie Heaslip, Keith Barry, Laura Whitmore, Mark Feehily, Niall Horan and Saoirse Ronan.

The group says this celebrity endorsement is "an important tool for the ISPCC in reaching out to those children who are being bullied as it reinforces that they are not alone".
The CEO of ISPCC, Ashley Balbirnie, said "Last year, Childline phone and online services received over 8,000 contacts in relation to bullying, and many more again about the impact bullying can have; calls about depression, loneliness, low self-esteem and in some cases self-harm. For many young people they feel that they have nowhere else to turn".

ISPCC anti-bullying coordinator Andrew Jackson explains how the bullying report tool works.