Alex's Answer
I am grounded because I was caught having sex with my girlfriend
Your Question
Hey Alex, I’m 14 and my parents have grounded me seeing my girlfriend cause they caught us having sex my parents, say it illegal for me and my gf to have sex surely they are wrong?
Answer
Hi there and welcome to Ask Alex.
Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate you writing to us.
You say that you are 14 and your parents have grounded you from seeing your girlfriend because they caught you having sex. You are asking if they are wrong for saying it is illegal for you and your girlfriend to have sex.
It is important to know that in Ireland, the legal age to give consent to engage in sexual acts is 17 years old. This means that even if you feel you “want to” engage in sexual acts with someone, legally you cannot consent to this until the age of 17 or over. You can learn more about this by visiting www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
It is natural for you to have questions about sex, is there someone close to you that you can speak to about this further? There are some great articles on Childline website about sexuality and relationships which you may find helpful www.childline.ie/sexuality-and-relationships/. Other important websites to look up include www.B4UDecide.ie and www.SpunOut.ie.
If you are finding it difficult to talk to a trusted adult, or don’t know what to say to them, please contact us without delay on our phone service 1800 66 66 66 or through our webchat service at www.childline.ie by clicking on the orange Live Chat button. These services are free and confidential and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Take care of yourself,
Alex