Group cancels protest against Phoebe’s school

A PLANNED public protest against a visit to Ireland by fellow students of deceased teenager Phoebe Prince has been called off.

A Cork-based “anti-bullying” group set up in the wake of the 15-year-old’s suicide last year planned to carry out the protest at Shannon Airport as the school party walked through the arrival gates.

But family and friends of the teenager were deeply critical of the planned protest, with her aunt describing it as an “injustice” and disrespectful to the pupils.

The reasoning for the protest was that the planned trip was an insult to the memory of Phoebe, who took her own life after allegedly being subjected to months of abuse from fellow students at her Massachusetts school.

Protest organiser Tony Fisher, a parent who set up an anti-bullying group last year, said: “We felt disgusted and appalled. It felt like a real insult, not only to her family but to the whole country.”

Phoebe’s aunt had earlier revealed that the young girl was also bullied at a school in Ireland before moving to the United States with her mother and siblings in the summer of 2009.

Now Mr Fisher has said he and others who had planned to protest would not now do so, out of respect for Phoebe’s family.

Aunt Eileen Moore described the planned protest as an “injustice” to the children who had saved for a year to go on trip.

Ms Moore said: “The kids should have the respect they deserve.” And she asked: “We’re ready to condemn kids who saved money for more than a year to go Ireland, but not a single teacher or administrator who turned a blind eye to the bullying?”

Other friends of the family warned some pupils might be hurt if the protest, planned for the April 18 arrival in Ireland, had gone ahead.

Forty students from South Hadley and adult chaperones have been saving and fundraising for more than a year for the spring trip to Ireland and Britain. It was organised before Phoebe died.

South Hadley parent and vocal critic of the school administrators, Darby O’Brien, told the Boston Herald newspaper the children should not be punished for what happened to Phoebe.

Even Mr Fisher said the teenager’s father had been in touch and asked the protest be cancelled.

South Hadley superintendent Gus Sayer said: “I know some people, because of publicity about the trip, just wonder what will be awaiting the group when they get there.

“But we haven’t had any threats or reason to believe they won’t be safe.”

Phoebe took her own life in January last year after being subjected to weeks of abuse by fellow students.

Six students have been charged in connection with incidents that happened in the weeks leading up to her death.