Family ‘devastated’ after teenager’s memorial site removed by school, radio host Ben Fordham slams principal

Year 7 student, Charlotte O’Brien, took her own life in September after experiencing relentless bullying.

A school’s explanation for taking down a memorial dedicated to a 12-year-old girl who took her own life has been described as a “flat out lie”.

Year 7 student, Charlotte O’Brien, took her own life in September after relentless bullying at Catholic school, Santa Sabina, in Strathfield, inner-west Sydney.

School principal Paulina Skerman claimed the decision was based on advice from mental health experts at Headspace, citing concerns about the memorial’s impact on other students.

But this explanation quickly unravelled after 2GB radio host Ben Fordham contacted Headspace. The organisation flatly denied Ms Skerman’s account, saying they did not recommend the removal of Charlotte’s memorial.

“Headspace did not recommend Santa Sabina or Paulina Skerman remove the memorial dedicated to Charlotte. To say that Headspace advised the removal is a straight-out lie,” Fordham told his audience. “It never happened.”

He added: “Headspace did not advise Paulina Skerman or anyone at Santa Sabina to take it down.”

When Fordham pressed Skerman on the matter, she clarified that her comments referred to “previous written advice” on creating an appropriate memorial.

Santa Sabina College has defended its approach, insisting its anti-bullying policy is accessible online.

“I have been overwhelmed by the number of emails and messages from our families that talk about their children feeling safe and cared for at Santa Sabina College,” Ms Skerman added.

The year 7 student tragically died by suicide in September. .

Charlotte’s grandfather, Bill, pictured at the memorial site.

Following the 12-year-old’s tragic death, her heartbroken family set up a memorial on a tree near the girls’ school.

Charlotte’s aunt Melinda Rodgers explained it was the only way they could share their farewells to the young girl.

“It was something we wanted to do for Charlotte because we didn’t get the opportunity to say goodbye,” she told 9News.

“It was our special way of giving her something to say you mattered and we miss you.”

The memorial was covered in flowers, with locals paying tribute to the 12-year-old.

The memorial was taken down on Monday afternoon.

The memorial was set up on a tree over the weekend, with a small plaque and flowers to pay tribute to Charlotte.

When the family drove past the memorial the next morning, the site had increased in size, with others leaving flowers of their own to pay tribute to the 12-year-old.

However, later on Monday afternoon, the entire memorial had been removed.

The family first realised this when they discovered Charlotte’s grandfather “wandering aimlessly up and down the street … trying to find the memorial site to lay his flowers”.

After he left the flowers at the site of the original memorial, they were “devastated” to learn they had also been removed.

“Words cannot express how devastated we were,” Ms Rodgers said.

The Sydney school has plans to set up a permanent memorial to the 12-year-old.

Charlotte’s father Mat said he was “running out of words” to describe his feelings about the situation.

“From the school’s perspective, If I was given advice to remove those things, I wouldn’t have touched them,” he told 9News, adding it would be a “positive step” for the school to erect a permanent memorial to his daughter.

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