If you don't mind downloading a basic client, then I can set up a chatroom for the forums pretty much straight away. I recommend
mIRC.
IT'S FREE - NO SPYWARE/ADWARE/ANYWHERE :P I use it all the time for various chat rooms.
Setting up mIRC
-Download mIRC
-Install mIRC
-Start mIRC
-Close the About window
-Fill in a nickname you want to use while chatting, as well as an alternative when it is taken. Also fill in the email and real name field, although these last two can be fake. -----Then press OK
-Enter the following in the small bar at the bottom of the window that shows up:
/server irc.empireirc.net -j #gocougar
-And of course press enter
-You're in! Type messages in the bottom bar of the screen, further things should be obvious.
-There are a number of handy commands you can use while in the chat.
-The different looking text such as "* dan dan goes off to moderate the forums" can be produced with the /me command:
/me goes off to moderate the forums
-You can change your nickname with /nick:
/nick OtherNick
-You can send someone a private message others can see with /msg:
/msg dan dan Are you really the great dan dan?
There's far more, of course, but this is a start.
If you have any questions then just ask them here, I look forward to chatting to anyone who decides to give it a go :P
It's open now btw... just follow the instructions and you should see me in there... on my own
As for the issue of bad people turning up, well moderator like people (ops) can be made and they can kick/ban people from the chat.