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Mark Feehily
New hard-hitting anti-bullying campaign features Jedward, Louis Walsh, Westlife singer Mark Feehily, Actress Saoirse Ronan and MTV presenter Laura Whitmore group together to raise awareness of how widespread bullying is in this country. ISPCC

New hard-hitting anti-bullying campaign features Jedward, Louis Walsh, Westlife singer Mark Feehily, Actress Saoirse Ronan and MTV presenter Laura Whitmore group together to raise awareness of how widespread bullying is in this country.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children initiative (ISPCC) has launched an anti-bullying campaign with dramatic photographs of Jedward, Louis Walsh, Saoirse Ronan and other Irish celebrities as victims of bullying.

These are images of celebrities now ISPCC ambassadors as you've never seen them before - bloodied and battered - to raise awareness of how widespread bullying is in this country.

Last year the Childline service received around 2,300 calls and messages every day from young people, with about quarter of the messages relating to abuse and welfare.

Jedward were keen to get involved in the campaign as they admitted they had been victims of bullying. "We were bullied at school but we were lucky in one way as we had each other," they said. "We know how firsthand how horrible bullying can be and so we jumped at the opportunity of being part of this campaign" quoted the Belfast Telegraph.

Westlife singer Feehily, who came up with the idea, said he was inspired by his own personal experiences of bullying when he was younger.

"I know at first-hand how the impact of being bullied as a teenager can quite literally last a lifetime," quote the Belfast Telegraph.

All of those who took part in the campaign gave their services for free.

See <cite>www.ispcc.ie for more information on the anti-bullying campaign.