Schoolgirl laid to rest after ‘society failed her’

Society failed schoolgirl Erin Gallagher, her requiem Mass has heard.

Fr John Joe Duffy also called for a ban on social media websites such as ask.fm following the death of the Donegal 13-year-old.

He made his remarks as he celebrated requiem Mass for Erin, who took her own life last weekend.

Erin had claimed she was the victim of online bullying, as well as physical bullying.

Hundreds of mourners gathered under grey skies in Donegal to say a final farewell to the second-year pupil from Finn Valley College.

Fr Duffy told mourners at St Mary’s Church in Stranorlar that now was the time for students to go home and abandon such websites.

He told mourners: “I am asking students to go home and cancel their ask.fm accounts and not to use other such websites. We have seen the pain they have caused and I am asking you now to take action.”

Students wept as the white coffin bearing Erin’s remains was carried into the church. The coffin was accompanied by floral tributes spelling out the words “sister”, “angel”, “Erin”, and “cousin”.

Erin’s mother Lorraine, sister Shannon, 15, and four-year-old brother Sean James held onto each other for support.

The congregation heard that Erin was a bubbly girl with a hearty laugh who loved football and boxing — she was a member of Twin Towns Boxing Club and Sean MacCumhaills GAA club — while her favourite subject at school had been metalwork.

Mourners heard Fr Duffy question the level of resources available to deal with bullying, and criticised the failure to monitor and ban social networking sites.

“I am asking all agencies and arms of the State who are responsible for the care of children to finally come together and formulate a comprehensive policy of prevention and support, of helping individuals so that this day will never have to dawn on another parent or family in this country again. This is the challenge we as a society now face. We are only here today because society has failed Erin Gallagher.”

Fr Duffy said the “authorities may hide behind technical and other difficulties, but these sites can be regulated and they must be regulated”.

He went on: “This is not the first tragedy, but let it be the last. But it can only be the last when we face the reality that we are not standing up to this as a society.

“We have seen the excellent support these past few days from professional services but we must take a step backwards and ask what levels of support were available and where were they before this tragic event.”

Fr Duffy said he did not want to take away from the excellent work done after Erin’s death, but asked: “Do we have the resources available to man the frontline in terms of prevention? Have we national policies in place? Have we the guidelines for prevention to avoid this in the future? Is it known and is it clear who we turn to if we see a similar situation develop?”

Society, he added, had failed Erin Gallagher.

Erin Gallagher was laid to rest at Castlefin Cemetery following the requiem Mass.

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Schoolgirl laid to rest after ‘society failed her’