THE STAFF OF A PRIMARY SCHOOL in Mullingar have written a letter to the parents of their pupils, urging them not to buy their children “unsuitable” video games for Christmas.

The letter singled out the recently released Grand Theft Auto V as an area of specific concern, due to the extreme violence and sexual themes of the game.

Principal Caroline Mhic Robin wrote to parents:

We have grave concerns about certain video games that children have access to, for example Grand Theft Auto (which, we hear, is on several Santa wish lists this year). The general public have been shocked at the level of violence and explicit graphic content in them…Video games and DVDs all have an age classification for a very good reason.

Here’s an extract from the letter:

To read the full letter, click here.

Principal Mhic Robin told DailyEdge.ie that children as young as third class pupils had played the Grand Theft Auto games, and she could see the effects of these games on her students.

“The games have a negative impact on children in relation to the language they use and their concentration levels,” she said.

“Children can put a lot of pressure on their parents to get these games, but parents should really read up on them before buying them.”

h/t The Irish Sun

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