The mum of the young girl who took her own life after she claimed she was bullied on-line has spoken of the last few hours she spent with her loving daughter before the 13 year old took her own life.
Erin Gallagher, a second year pupil at Finn Valley College, was found dead at her home in Ballybofey, on Saturday last.
She took her own life just hours after posting messages on a social networking site saying she was bullied.
Fighting back tears at a relation’s home in Killygordon, devastated mum Lorraine, 36, revealed she had watched a movie with her daughter just hours before the tragedy.
“We had a takeaway and some sweets and she seemed fine,” said the mother of three.
Lorraine said she was aware of the difficulties her daughter had been having.
“It had been really bad but it seemed like she was getting better.
“The bullying was going on since the summer but got much worse when she got back to school.
“It was these girls who used to be her friends who fell out with her and just started bullying her everywhere.
“She was bullied in school, on Facebook and through messages on her phone.
“I tried to get help from the school and spoke to them about it,” she said.
Things got so bad that Lorraine decided to contact Gardai two months ago.
“The guards said if there was no proof or if she wasn’t being physically touched by the bullies there was nothing they could do.
“She couldn’t prove who was doing it, but we knew who was doing it,” she said.
Lorraine, pictured, paid a simple tribute to her late daughter who would have turned 14 in a few days time on November 14th.
“She was beautiful, a lovely, lovely girl who never did anyone any harm in her life.”
The school where Erin was a second year pupil have reacted swiftly to put measures in place to cope with the fall-out from the death of the young girl.
Principal Frank Dooley liaised with the HSE and other bodies and launched a critical incident management plan.
COUNSELLING
Yesterday nine counsellors and other health professionals including psychologists met with parents and staff in a bid to deal with the challenges for all concerned in the future.
Mr Dooley, who taught Erin last year, revealed he had only spoken to her last Wednesday and said she seemed in good form.
“She was a very good pupil and always very pleasant. The last time I spoke to her was on Wednesday.
“We are a small school and we have a good personal relationship with all pupils.
“Erin seemed in good form when we met in school,” he said.
Mr Dooley said he did not want to comment directly about Erin’s situation.
“Within all schools when you are dealing with teenagers there is fragility and friction.
“Children think they are adults and they are not but we have to deal with that,” he said.
The well-known school principal said this and other such incidents must encourage the Government to move to address the dangers connected with the internet.
“The bottom line is that four out of five pupils these days have smart phones and they are computers.
“We have pupils for seven hours each day and we can monitor the use of these devices but parents and other relations also have a role to play,” he said.
Mr Dooley said he also plans to invite pupils and their parents to another open counseling forum when Erin’s funeral takes place.
WAKE
Erin will be waked at her aunt Myra Sweeney’s house at Dromore Park, Killygordon following last night’s removal from Letterkenny General Hospital.
Her funeral mass will take place tomorrow (WED) at 11am at St.Mary’s Church in Stranorlar before burial at Castlefin Cemetary.
Erin is survived by her mum Lorraine, sister Shannon, brother Sean James, grandfather Seamus, uncle James and relatives and many friends.
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