Teenage bullying on social media and suicide

[seafoid]

This story from Donegal is very disturbing 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1031/breaking7.html

It sounds like the authorities are out of their depth. What can the Gardai do? And surely there should be consequences for those who drive someone to suicide.


There were in the States in the Phoebe Prince case


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Phoebe_Prince

On March 29, 2010, Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel announced at a press conference[25] that six teenagers from South Hadley High School were indicted as adults on felony charges by a Hampshire County grand jury. Charges ranged from statutory rape for the two male teenagers involved (both adults under Massachusetts law) to violation of civil rights, criminal harassment, disturbance of a school assembly, and stalking. Additional delinquency complaints were also filed against the three female minors indicted by the grand jury. One was charged with assault with a deadly weapon for throwing a can at Phoebe Prince. A separate delinquency complaint was filed against one of the three female minors for assault and battery against another victim at South Hadley High School (a girl who was attacked at school after appearing in a TV news report describing the bullying that took place at South Hadley High School)

[orangeman]

If you think that was bad, this is worse. Heartbreaking stuff.

The sister of County Donegal schoolgirl Erin Gallagher, who took her own life amid claims she was bullied on the internet, has been found dead.

Shannon Gallagher, who was 15, died last night.

She was discovered in a house in Castlefin around midnight. Police say they are treating her death as a personal tragedy.

Staff and pupils at the Finn Valley college where she was a pupil were told the news this morning.

Her death comes less than two months after her 13-year-old sister Erin died.

She took her own life after allegedly being bullied online.

She was also a pupil at Finn Valley College.

In a statement the body that runs the school said its thoughts and prayers were with Shannon's family at this sad time.

It added this is an extremely difficult time for all concerned.

A critical incident team is in place in the school as a support for students and staff.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20708761

[EC Unique]

Shocking stuff. Really sad. RIP to the girls and God help their family. Cruel stuff.

[Declan]

Read that today. Hard to know what to say really. Unreal

[theskull1]

It would appear that suicide behaves like a virus in terms of it being "the solution" for many to deal with lifes struggles. Very very common for there to be a domino effect. Someone close carrying it out seems to provide a level of acceptability for those who go after them. I'm sure there's guilt mixed in there as well. Terrible for those left behind. What can be said at these times

[Billys Boots]

Reminds me that Anne Lovett's sister died in similar circumstances within a few month's of Anne's death.  Awful. 

[seafoid]

The poor mother.

And they never found out who was behind the original bullying. 

[snoopdog]

Just seen this in the Telegraph. Absolutely tragic. my heart goes out to those 2 wee girls and especially there parents and other family members. how could you cope with that.
something has to be done about cyber bullying, surely an age limit should be put on things like facebook and twitter, govt regulated.

May they rest in Peace, god love them

[Tony Baloney]

Just seen this in the Telegraph. Absolutely tragic. my heart goes out to those 2 wee girls and especially there parents and other family members. how could you cope with that.
something has to be done about cyber bullying, surely an age limit should be put on things like facebook and twitter, govt regulated.

May they rest in Peace, god love them

How do people get bullied on these things? Do you not have to be friends with someone on Facebook before you can post anything? Likewise on Twitter can you not set accounts to private and vet followers or as a last resort not use these social media?

[SHEEDY]

heartbreaking news. thoughts go out to the family.

[omagh_gael]

@TB

It appears that a lot of the bullying involves setting up fake Facebook accounts etc pretending to be the person and then posting all sorts of horrible stuff.

Impossible to imagine how this family is coping, hopefully the hoors that carried out the bullying are suffering now.

[The Iceman]

Fake FB accounts seems to be the norm and groups that they would all be part of. Tagging people in photos and comments and in places.
Kids are cruel and the internet makes it easier. look how easily we get annoyed on a discussion forum and most of us are supposedly adults. Take out the common sense and add the cruelty and there is a recipe for disaster....

[Tony Baloney]

@TB

It appears that a lot of the bullying involves setting up fake Facebook accounts etc pretending to be the person and then posting all sorts of horrible stuff.

Impossible to imagine how this family is coping, hopefully the hoors that carried out the bullying are suffering now.

Scumbags.

[nrico2006]

@TB

It appears that a lot of the bullying involves setting up fake Facebook accounts etc pretending to be the person and then posting all sorts of horrible stuff.

Impossible to imagine how this family is coping, hopefully the hoors that carried out the bullying are suffering now.

Scumbags.

Your old friend who didn't like the fleas had a similar problem with one of her children that warranted police involvement.  A fake account was set-up in the boys name and bad abuse was fired at one girl in particular on a very frequent basis.  It was the girk who set it up and sent herself the messages trying to make it look like it was from him.  There were boys waiting for him at the bus stop etc and it got a bit out of hand.

[stew]

The poor mother.

And they never found out who was behind the original bullying.

How the fcuk can that happen, somebody knows, this bastard should be hunted down until caught,or they should if there is more than one, usually is because they are, in essence, cowards.