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Family forced to flee home in Phoebe Prince bullying

By
PATRICK COOPER,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, February 13, 2010, 9:17 AM
Updated Saturday, February 13, 2010, 3:35 PM

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Laurie A. Narey's name was placed on facebook and other sites.
Laurie A. Narey's name was placed on facebook and other sites.


A South Hadley Massachusetts woman whose daughter was wrongly accused of bullying Phoebe Prince, the 15-year-old Irish girl who later hung herself, has been harassed out of her home along with her family.

Laurie A. Narey has been flooded with abusive phone calls, emails and messages from places as far away as Germany since her name was placed on Facebook and other sites on a list of kids and parents who were responsible for the death of Phoebe Prince, who hung herself after severe bullying at her school.

Her lawyer, Toby N. Wilson, told the Boston Herald his client feared for her safety.

“It’s been a nightmare,” Wilson said yesterday. “(Narey) couldn’t live in her own house for a week. She got new locks for the door. It’s thrown her life into disarray. Even for a free-speech nut like myself, it’s very scary that someone could see her name and, without even checking to see if they have the right person, assume that they have the right to do this,” Wilson said, adding that Narey will sue for harassment and infliction of emotional distress.

Phoebe Prince had moved with her family from Ireland to the school six month before and was severely bullied after she dated a football player there.

Narey's lawyer stated that some of the postings were removed after she contacted the people and told them they had the wrong person,

But names were still being carried on several websites yesterday including on one that said: “Some one please harass the (expletive) out of them.”

South Hadley police Chief David J. LaBrie said they were aware of many threats.

“We don’t monitor websites; what we’ve asked is for people who find these kinds of threats to collect them and forward them to us,” LaBrie said.

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13 Comments

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EveryDayDad | Apr 02, 2010, 07:21 PM EDT
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Phoebe's Mom was aware of the harassment and that it was growing. Why would you continue to take your child to such an environment. They had choices. They could have home-schooled, changed schools, the choices are limitless. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (other kids bullying), the power to change the things I can (home or other school) and the wisdom to know the difference (well, they missed this one all together and now it's too late). A sad sad tragedy. Phoebe made a bad choice that cost her her life. If Phoebe had more support and action-based involvement from her parents her death may have avoided. Teasing and getting teased or "Bullied" which to me involved physical force is a part of growing up just like losing a job, a wife or other significant loss. These kids accused should be let off. They will not forget that society is pointing the finger at them. This could lead to more suicides if it continues. Nothing's going to bring Phoebe back and she did kill herself alone. Bad choice Phoebe. If anything, I think her parents should be charged with child endangerment resulting in death for continuing to force Phoebe to go to that school. School is not a daycare people, its a learning environment. If your kids not in an environment they can learn in, change it, don't use public schools as your baby sitter so you can sit home on the couch or make what (money???). Alot of good that does her now. Rest in Peace Phoebe.
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double11 | Apr 02, 2010, 03:12 PM EDT
move them to apig sty
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Helen Ferone | Feb 17, 2010, 07:54 PM EST
It's too bad our country has come to this. Here we have an innocent girl who was harrassed by others that don't have an ounce of sense in their heads. Where are their parents in all of this, and how would they feel if it were their own daughter? Think before you act on cruelty to others or it may come back to haunt you the rest of your life if you have a conscience.
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angelwoman | Feb 16, 2010, 10:49 AM EST
Just another form bullying. It is everywhere in this world and it is portrayed on TV. I saw one commercial on how to deal with bullying in this coutry (US). There was one kid being bullied in a playground by one kid. All the other kids in the playground stood up behind the kid being bullied and the one doing the bullying was left alone as all the other kids left with the kid that was bullied. This commercial should be shown again, and everyone should stand up to bullying against the bully. Schools should be more alert, as well as parents. Must kids don't want to tell there kids that they are being bullied, because it is shameful. A public awareness program needs to be down everywhere and everyone needs to work together to fix this problem and educate our kids and adults that this behavior is unacceptable. We have to take a stand for a better life and not just turn a blind eye to everything we see. If you see something, say something.
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Watereskhill | Feb 15, 2010, 11:00 PM EST
Meanwhile she sits in the car to wherever they are going next text-messaging her friends as to awful it all is. Having contributed in no small measure to a life now ended. Then again a bubble-gum head has no conscience.
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KMcSinger | Feb 15, 2010, 02:39 PM EST
Oh boy . . . So someone dies tragically as a result of bullying and as a result other people are bullied! When's it going to end? It was hard enough being bullied regularly in school, but I can only imagine what it's like being bullied on the internet where some children are building "hate" sites for kids they don't like. How unbelievably cruel!
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feliciamaisey | Feb 15, 2010, 02:11 PM EST
Another form of bullying, cyber-style. It really drives home the horrible cruelty that human beings inflict upon one another. The tragedy is still happening in a different way and that is what happens when mass anger turns to vigilantism. It is not just an American thing either, for those willing to slam the US. It happened in the US, but it could well have happened anywhere, as proven by fact that some of these angry and misinformed folks doing this are from Germany (as stated in the article). It is time for people to wake up and figure out ways to make sure this can never ever happen again.
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dessieglynn | Feb 15, 2010, 01:09 PM EST
As usual the American answer.---------SUE
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McNabb1966 | Feb 14, 2010, 08:24 PM EST
@caritas..."Why do Americans go overboard like this?"....You think this is just an American thing? Why are you taking this opportunity to make a blanket condemnation of "Americans"?
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caritas | Feb 14, 2010, 07:36 AM EST
I feel for the parents of that poor girl. A stranger in your country and what awful treatment was meted out to her. The harassment is also out of order big time. Why do Americans go overboard like this? Nothing can be done to bring the girl back. Concentrate on rectifying the situation instead.
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Madeleine | Feb 13, 2010, 03:25 PM EST
This is what happens when Mob mentality takes over. I'm sorry this happened to you, it shouldn't have.
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ericalaughlin | Feb 13, 2010, 02:14 PM EST
Hi Laurie I live in South Hadley as well. I heard about this and feel awful that you've been the target of a witch hunt. As angry as I am about what happened, it does no good for anyone to personally go after the people involved. You are the first and foremost reason why....misinformation. The cycle will only continue if that is how people react to this. I don't want anyone involved to be coddled. I want to see everyone involved to be held accountable. Absolutely. But as members of the community, to take things into our own hands just causes far more damage. Reason being is that the public does not have all the facts. More innocent people are harmed and harrassed. How can the cycle be broken if the reaction is exactly what we're trying to fix? I'm sorry to hear that your family is going through this.
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laun412 | Feb 13, 2010, 11:59 AM EST
This is Laurie Narey and I just want to clarify something in your story. I don't have any children in the school system in South Hadley, nor do I or my children have any connections with this tragedy. I have grown children that have no connections to almost anyone in town, or the school system. My name and address were linked to this by someone on the internet for a reason I'll never know.
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