Mum claims she raised bulling issue with school ‘20 times’ before 12-year-old’s suicide
The mum of a Sydney schoolgirl who took her own life after being bullied has revealed the tragic emails she sent her daughter’s school.
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The heartbroken mother of a Sydney schoolgirl who took her own life after being relentlessly bullied desperately tried to raise the issue with the school 20 times before her daughter’s death.
Charlotte O’Brien, a year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, inner-west Sydney, tragically died by suicide on September 9.
Her mother Kelly told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that she had emailed the school many times over the years, with the first being in August 2022, where the mum expressed concern over her daughter being bullied and asked whether there were procedures in place.
The school allegedly replied telling her they take bullying “very seriously”. Further emails were sent in November 2022, where Kelly had raised the issue again.
She claims she was advised that a teacher had spoken with Charlotte and her group of friends, and said the girls had reconciled and agreed to “be kind to each other”.
Kelly raised her concerns again in May 2023 and again in June 2024.
The devastating final emails before Charlotte took her own life have been laid bare.
On August 9, 2024, Kelly told the school that her daughter would be staying home from school and that she had been “coming home in tears” over the last few weeks over friendship issues.
Several more emails were exchanged on the August 17, where the mum told the school she had taken Charlotte to the doctor as she “wasn’t coping” in recent times.
Sadly, the little girl took her own life on September 9, writing in her final note that she felt “life was too difficult” for her to go on.
Charlotte’s devastated family say they won’t let her story be “swept under the carpet”
Kelly contacted the college in a devastating email the day after Charlotte’s death.
“My beautiful girl took her own life last night because of the relentless friendship issues she faced,” Kelly wrote in an email on September 10.
“She didn’t deserve to go to and from school crying almost every day. She didn’t deserve girls to bark in her face or scream out her name and run away, to purposely hit her with their bag and say whoops.
“She didn’t deserve the pain she was in. She deserved love and kindness. She deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.
“My darling baby angel is gone because I didn’t make a big enough noise for her. I’m sorry baby, I’m sorry.”
‘Broken forever’
On Monday, Fordham told listeners he was meant to be on leave but “had to be here today” after receiving a heartbreaking statement from Charlotte’s family.
“Hi Ben, earlier this week our family experienced a day that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” the message read.
Do you know more? Get in touch: jasmine.kazlauskas@news.com.au
“We lost our baby girl in the most awful of circumstances. She was just 12 years old.”
Fordham then paused to warn listeners the contents of the letter were “deeply upsetting”, before continuing.
“No words can ever describe what its like for us and it will never be the same again,” the letter continued.
“Charlotte has left such a big hole in our lives, and she’s so deeply, deeply missed.
“The reports you have received are correct. My daughter was bullied by girls that still attend the school today.
“She wrote a goodbye note specifically mentioning the bullying she received at the school.
“She said life was too difficult for her to continue.
“When the most recent case of bullying was raised, the school simply said it was investigated and the girls denied it. That’s it. Case closed. Move on.
“Well my beautiful daughter’s life won’t move on and I’ll never get to say goodbye.
“These issues cannot be swept under the carpet. I will not let my daughter’s memory be swept under the carpet either.
“How many more children need to lose their lives before they get it? How many parents need to feel the pain of never being able to pick up their child from school again before they get it?
“We’re broken forever.”
School’s response
Santa Sabina College principal Paulina Skerman issued a message to the school community thanking them for the “love and support for … Charlotte”.
According to Fordham, Ms Skerman said in the missive that the bullying allegations “are extremely serious and are being treated as such”.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Ms Skerman said the school was unaware of some of the claims aired on 2GB.
“Several media outlets have contacted us today in relation to the tragic death of one of our students” she said.
“Through these inquiries, a number of claims are being made about the circumstances that led to her death – these are new claims to the College and are not consistent with our records.
“In the outpouring of grief as everyone rightly questions how this could have happened, the College asks the media to take immense care in reporting so that further issues are not created for other vulnerable young people in our community and beyond.
“The main priority of the College at the moment is to support and care for our students, their families and our staff as well as support for this grieving family.”
Ms Skerman said the school was working with counsellors and Headspace to provide support to pupils, saying it was important the situation was “carefully navigated” due to children being involved.
‘Destroyed her’
Charlotte sent a friend a Snapchat message of her crying on September 9.
Fordham broke down in tears as he read the last messages Charlotte’s friend sent to her.
“she wrote, ‘Charlotte you are scaring me’.
“She then wrote, ‘Charlotte, Charlotte, answer’.
“‘I wanna know you’re all right. Charlotte please, I’m here for you’.”
Fordham told listeners it was alleged Charlotte’s bullies befriended her to obtain “personal information” and used it against her.
“She opened up to them and then they destroyed her,” he said.
“They went to town on her.”
Kelly also issued a statement thanking Fordham for “standing up for Charlotte, something I feel I failed to do”.
She said that she did not want any children to feel responsible for her daughter’s death, saying Charlotte had not understood what she was doing.
“Please, I must stress and I beg, I do not want any little girls to feel responsible for this,” Kelly wrote.
“I don’t want any other mum not being able to wake up their child in the morning.
“They are also just little girls, so they don’t understand.
“Charlotte made a mistake in a moment of grief. She did not mean to do this. She did not understand.”
-With Heath Parkes-Hupton
Originally published as Mum claims she raised bulling issue with school ‘20 times’ before 12-year-old’s suicide
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