RTI request incomplete as mother seeks answers on gun incident at daughter’s school

A mother has been denied information regarding a school incident where another student pointed a gun at her daughter’s head. What she wants to see done.

Mother Aleyce Munday and daughter Ayva with their original story on the front page of the Mercury on February 23 this year.

The mother of a student who had a gun held at her head at a Tasmanian school is angry and upset she has been unable to get more information from police about whether the gun was real or a toy.

Aleyce Munday submitted a Right to Information to the Police Department asking for more details about the incident at Hobart’s St Michael’s Collegiate School in August 2021.

“I would like to know what efforts he (police officer) made to determine the gun was real or not,” she asked.

“I would like to know did he sight the gun and if so where and when.”

In response to the RTI police provided some details but said they were “unable to locate some of the information relating to your application”.

Aleyce Munday the mother of Ayva Munday who has experienced extreme levels of bullying at several schools. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Police also would not provide more details about the investigation.

“The release of this information would be reasonably likely to harm the interest of the individuals named and the ability to obtain similar information in the future, which in turn would harm the administration of justice and enforcement of law,” the police response said.

Ms Munday’s daughter Ayva was only 11 when the incident happened and Ms Munday spoke out after the family’s legal processes on two incidents – including one at a different school – were settled to bring attention to school bullying.

She said she was only told last November after a complaint to the Office of the Education Registrar that the gun pointed at Ayva’s head by another student was a toy.

“I was told for more than three years that the gun was real and then I was told it was a toy,” she said.

“I am extremely disappointed because the questions I asked were not detrimental to the wellbeing of the police officer or the perpetrator.

Ayva Munday 15 with mum Aleyce Munday. Ayva has experienced extreme levels of bullying at several schools. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“They were, in my opinion, legitimate questions to determine that the police and the schools’ policies and procedures were handled correctly, fairly and legally.”

Ms Munday, who has worked in the aviation and medical sectors said threatening behaviour, especially with guns was not tolerated.

“Where did the gun go?” she said.

She said since going public with details of Ayva’s bullying, the response had been overwhelming from other parents, carers and even people interstate who had contacted the family.

“The feedback we received was shocking,” she said.

“So many people opened up about their children having issues with bullying and assaults and the fact nothing is being done about it.

“Everyone we spoke to had the same concerns, which are their child being physically and mentally harmed and the police and the schools are not doing anything about it.”

Ms Munday felt fortunate to “have Ayva with me – alive and healthy”.

“I am so lucky and don’t take that for granted. So many other people confided to us their concerns on their child suiciding because of the lack of support.”

She has written to the Police Minister about the incident.

Originally published as RTI request incomplete as mother seeks answers on gun incident at daughter’s school