'Why me?' asks boy, 11, who was stabbed at school as family calls for law change 

Stephen Geraghty with his sons, 11-year-old Mason, left, Carter, 10, and Scott, 6. Mason was stabbed by another boy at St Finian's National School on March 4. Picture: Moya Nolan

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“Why me?”

That was the question posed by 11-year-old Mason Geraghty who was stabbed in the back with a knife by another pupil at school.

Mason was rushed to Temple Street Hospital after he was attacked at his school in Finglas, Dublin, while playing football in the yard.

Mason, who is recovering well, spoke to the Irish Examiner on Thursday with his father, Stephen.

Pulling up his hoodie to reveal his injury, Mason recalled the moment he knew he had been stabbed: “I was in goals, another boy told me to come into the bushes, he wanted to show me something in his bag. I said ‘no.’

“Then he said ‘turn around and get down on my knees’ and I did.

“I felt something, the pain was very bad. I touched my back and saw the blood and I turned around, I saw the knife he was holding. He was about to stab me again, I ran to the teacher and said, ‘I have been stabbed’.”

Gardaí and emergency services were called to the school and young Mason was rushed to hospital.

The wound was 2cm from a main artery but thankfully, Mason did not need surgery. He was in the intensive care unit for three days.

Family wants law changed

Mason with his father Stephen Geraghty who said a psychologist at Temple Street encouraged Mason to talk about what happened and describe how he feels. 'It’s better he speaks about it,' he said. Picture: Moya Nolan

Mason's family have now said they want to see the law changed to allow alleged crimes committed by children under the age of 12 to be investigated.

The age of responsibility in Ireland is 12 years meaning children who have not reached that age generally cannot be charged unless the offence is murder, manslaughter, or rape.

Mr Geraghty has removed his three sons — Mason, 11, Carter 10, and Scott, 5 — from the school, and they are enrolled to start in a new school on Tuesday.

“I can’t let them go back there,” he said. 

I haven’t had a proper response from the school, the other lad is underage so there is no legislation that will allow any repercussions and so we just feel like the criminals. 

"That law needs to be changed urgently as we feel helpless. The gardaí said their hands are tied with this.” 

The father of three said he is extremely disappointed that he has had no phone calls from the school or anyone in authority, and he remains in “shock”. 

Mason Geraghty, 11, shows the wound he received after he was stabbed by another 11-year-old schoolboy at St Finian's National School on March 4. Also pictured is his brother Carter, 10. Picture: Moya Nolan

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I really can’t take it all in, we are completely overwhelmed.

“In the hospital we all waited in a room for news on Mason when he went to theatre.

'He might not make it'

“He was monitored all the time but the biggest part of it was the worry was that he might need surgery. The doctor came and said, ‘he might not make it, or he might make it,’ so the whole room was screaming.

“We count our lucky stars that he is ok and that it wasn’t any worse than it was."

Mr Geraghty said a psychologist at Temple Street encouraged Mason to talk about what happened and describe how he feels.

“It’s better he speaks about it,” he said. “We have to make sure though, [that] he has the supports going forward.

“The community around us has been incredible too and we can’t thank them enough.” 

The Irish Examiner observed dozens of get well soon cards, hampers, gifts, sweets, and balloons dotted around the house for Mason since he came home.

Stephen Geraghty has removed his three sons — Scott, Mason, and Carter —  from the school where Mason was stabbed. He is now recovering at home following a week-long stay in Temple St hospital including three days in the ICU. Picture: Moya Nolan

Mr Geraghty continued: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. We are in shock. I don’t think Mason realises what has happened fully, but he doesn’t understand how this happened.

Mason’s mother, Natalie, said her three sons “are good children” and she was “devastated” over what her child has gone through.

Betty Geraghty, Mason's grandmother, said “I am really shaken, I was in an awful state. Stephen rang me when Mason was stabbed. We were all in hysterics.” 

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the incident.