Jeremy Prince calls for anti-bullying campaign

THE father of teenager Phoebe Prince who died by suicide in January 2010 has urged Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to back plans for an anti-bullying programme in all schools from next year.

Jeremy Prince made the call during a specially organised Oireachtas meeting with TDs and senators on what would have been his daughter’s 17th birthday. He was speaking on behalf of the National Anti-Bullying Coalition (NABC), which is attempting to gain support across the political spectrum for a new “safe-school,” anti-bullying programme to be introduced in all schools.

Under the plan, teachers, pupils, school management, gardaí and members of the local community would be given advice on how to address bullying without making the problem more difficult for the victim.