Angry Westport residents 'bombarded with late-night adult chatline callers'

A MAYO TD has been forced to contact gardai and broadcasting regulatory authorities on behalf of angry residents of Westport who are being bombarded with late-night telephone calls from adult chatline callers, according to a report in the Sunday Independent.

Minister of State Michael Ring has demanded answers after households complained of being inundated with calls from users of adult chatlines advertised on British television channels.

The premium rate telephone numbers used by chatline operators are similar to local landlines of residents in Westport.

When Irish users of the UK based services ring the numbers without adding the international dial code they are put through to family homes in Westport.

The calls are causing huge distress for households as people are receiving several calls a day, mostly at night, from men who believe they are calling X-rated phone services.

Some of those affected have contacted MInister Ring's office as they have been unable to find a solution to the problem.

The minister confirmed to The Connaught Telegraph this afternoon that the people in question are 'aggravated and annoyed' by the volume of calls they are receiving and insist they should not have to change their telephone numbers.

'They are getting these calls in the middle of night. One of those people has an elderly mother and family members all over the world and there could be a call at any time that they would have to take,' said Minister Ring.

He wrote to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Commission of Communications Regulation (Comreg) asking them to intervene and force the operators of the adult phone services to change the numbers.

Gardai were also asked to look at the issue which is causing huge distress to residents in Westport. The minister said gardai 'did everything they could' but are limited in their powers in this area.

Minister Ring has tabled a parliamentary question to Communications Minister Denis Naughten in order to address the problem and it is expected to be dealt with in the coming week.