Tackling the changing face of bullying

At the funeral this week of 13-year-old Erin Gallagher, who took her own life in reaction to cyberbullying, Fr John Joe Duffy called on all agencies of the State to get together to draw up a policy to ensure that no other child suffers from cyberbullying.

Hence, the report on the issue of bullying in schools which was launched yesterday by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, was particularly timely.

Ombudsman Emily Logan called on the Government to bolster the ongoing work of the Department of Education by including the Department of Health in developing an anti-bullying strategy so that the issue is addressed as both a public health and an educational matter.