THE FUNERAL OF 13-year-old Donegal girl Erin Gallagher is taking place this morning at St Mary’s Church in Stranorlar.
RTE has reported that a large crowd has gathered at the church with school friends and teachers among the mourners.
Erin was found dead on Saturday after posting messages on the internet lashing out at people who had abused her through a website where people can anonymously leave questions for members.
It has been reported that two teenagers presented themselves for questioning to Gardaí investigating the girl’s death. A Garda spokesperson told TheJournal.ie this morning that the investigation is ongoing.
Erin’s death is the second in recent weeks to involve an Irish teenager who had been the victim of online bullying – Ciara Pugsley, a 15-year-old from Leitrim, was also found dead having received anonymous abuse through the same website
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland today, Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch said cyber bullying is a “new phenomenon”.
“Like all of these things it will probably pass and something else will take its place”, she said.
Lynch said schools need “robust models” in place to teach children about the real consequences of their actions.
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