Victim of Bullying - The case of Phobe Prince
What prompt me to start this hub was after watching a documentary about Phobe Prince' case here in Ireland. It was heartbreaking and I hope that more attention will be brought towards bullying before it claims another victim.
Information I gathered for this hub is from watching the documentary Phobe Prince : The Final Verdict, (aired in Ireland on 5th December 2011), wikipedia, boston.com, irishcentral.com and slate.com.
Originally from County Clare, Ireland, she moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts in the fall of 2009 with her mother and then 12 year old sister. She was attending school in South Hadley High School where she met her bullies and was tormented for months until the day she decided to take her own life.
Being new to the school, she befriended a senior, football player which she had brief relationship with, who was in the midst of mending his relationship with a 'mean girl'. It seems that she was probably unaware that some of these guys were perhaps 'off limits' and suffered the consequences.
She was intimidated at all times..in school, at home through her cell phone, internet..the name calling and insults and was also pushed against the lockers.
The day she commiitted suicide, Phoebe went to the library during lunch and sat with her friend and 3 of the alleged bullies where sitting at another table. One of them wrote 'Irish bitch is a cunt' beside Phoebe's name on the library sign in page and was yelled 'whore', 'close your legs' and 'I hate stupid sluts'
After school she walked home when the bullies drove by her, shouting insults and threw a can at her. When she got home, she took a scarf and hung herself from the stairwell leading to their apartment on the 2nd floor. Her 12 year old sister found her body.
Even after her death, her bullies were not a bit remorseful and instead mock her in her facebook memorial page. On the day of her death, her one of her bullies even wrote 'accomplish' on Phoebe's facebook page.
Her bullies denied to the State Police with having anything to do with Phoebe's death and seems that one of them even bragged about how she played dumb with the police and continued to bad mouth Phoebe. Two days after Phoebe's body was found, the school cotillion carried on at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. One would think that the school would have some sense to post pone the function to a later date as a mark of respect.
A television crew from Springfield TV station was send to interview the students and soon after the crew was out of sight, one of the mean girls came up to the student that was interviewed, slammed her against a locker and punch her in her head.
Watching the documentary, I believe that her family did raise concerns of bullying in the school but it seems that the school authorities took the matter rather lightly and the bullying continued. Then a columnist for The Boston Globe, Kevin Cullen wrote an article 'The Untouchable Mean Girls' which brought both local and international attention to this matter.
This case also brought about an anti-bullying legislation named 'Phoebe's law' in Massachusetts on May 3rd 2010 and now similar legislation is proposed in New York State.
Judgement and Settlement
On March 29 2010, the South Hardley Six were charged and all six pleaded not guilty.
Phoebe's parents claimed that the town and some town officials failed to protect Phoebe and it is believed that Phoebe's mother settled with the town of South Hadley that she will not sue or reveal details of the settlement for $225,000. Her brother stated that she agreed to settle to find some peace and put the tragedy behind her.
Help For Abuse Victims in Schools
If you feel that you are being abuse in school, try to talk to an adult..keep talking to people and ask for help. I have listed a few website links that you could contact and talk to.
1) In Ireland
- ReachOut.com
-SpunOut.ie
-Anti-Bullying Ireland
http://antibullyingireland.nfshost.com/
2) In UK
- Bullying UK
3) Online
- kidshealth
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html
Please help to leave any other sites or contacts that victims could contact in your contry in the comments column and I will update this list.
Other related hubs on bullying from fellow hubbers
- Do You Know a Bully at Work? How to Handle the Offic...
Al types of bullying can occur in the workplace. Be aware of what may happen to you or your children at work, and help to spread the word. Some US States are considering Anti-Workplace Bullying laws. - School Bullies: Where Are They Now
School bullies, where are they now? have they beat themselves up or have they just melted and died and disappeared from the face of the earth. - Helping Kids Deal with Bullies
Not every child grows up with the burden of being bullied, but many kids face the reality of bullying behavior on a regular basis. Able to damage self-esteem and confidence and sometimes responsible for causing physical harm and long-term... - Is Your Child a Victim of Bullying...or a Bully?
I know that the minute you read the above sentence your said - Help for Teen Domestic Violence/ Teenage Abuse
- Help for Victims of Cyber-Bullying
