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Phoebe Prince family received $225,000 in settlement from South Hadley

Newly-released court documents show details of settlement

By
HILDA HIGGINS,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, December 31, 2011, 9:10 AM
Updated Saturday, December 31, 2011, 9:10 AM

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Phoebe Prince
Phoebe Prince


The family of Phoebe Prince, the Irish teenager who committed suicide after a prolonged campaign of bullying, received $225,000 in a settlement from the town of South Hadley in Boston, after they agreed not to sue the girl’s school district, according to court documents released this week.

The disclosure comes four days after a Hampshire Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Slate reporter, Emily Bazelon, who filed a lawsuit demanding the town release the records. Town officials had fought the request as they said it violated a confidentiality agreement with Prince’s family.

Prince’s mother, Anne O’Brien, settled with the Massachusetts town in October 2010 as she wanted to avoid a trial, her brother Edward told the Boston Globe.

“My sister settled because she wanted this to stop," he said, adding, “She needed to find some peace."
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READ MORE:

Judge rules Phoebe Prince settlement information to be released

Phoebe Prince's mother, Anne O'Brien, breaks her silence

Mother of girl charged in Phoebe Prince death says life is hell for daughter

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Following the 15-year-old’s suicide in January 2010, her parents filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in July, alleging that the South Hadley public school system had failed to protect their daughter from discrimination.

The complaint accused the district of creating an “intimidating, hostile, and sexually offensive educational environment.” The Prince family withdrew the complaint in November 2010 after they settled with the town. However, the details were not released to the public until the Slate editor took court action against the town.

On December 23, Judge Mary-Lou Rup ordered the town to release the settlement details.

William Newman, director of the ACLU’s Western Massachusetts Legal Office who represented Bazelon, described it as a victory for the public.

“The public has a right to know this information,’’ he said.

“The ACLU brought this lawsuit on behalf of Emily in order to vindicate that right. I think the court’s decision is a testament to the importance of transparency in the government."

​
See more: News from Ireland , Phoebe Prince
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6 Comments

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IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2012, 07:46 AM EST
Saddest case of the year. A cautionary reminder of moving an innocent country girl from rural Ireland to metropolitan urban USA. Too great a culture shock, I imagine. Regrettable what kdis can do to each other, not least when they come from parentally deficient families and radically individualistic societies. Rest in peace Phobe. You were too beautiful for this ugly world.

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Murph46 | Dec 31, 2011, 01:10 PM EST
What's happened to Mass.? -They are too busy giving away supposed IRA secrets.

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RockNReel | Dec 31, 2011, 12:41 PM EST
It should have been in Millions instead of thousands. It was all covered up so that officials at the school would not get the blame.. SHAME on SOUTH Hadley and the morons who run that school. And, SHAME on those parents who brought those BULLYS into this world !! They ruined a beautiful young childs life and also her family's life.

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ProudCanadian | Dec 31, 2011, 12:24 PM EST
So little for the life of a beautiful girl in the dawning of her life. There should be more. RIP Phoebe

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Searlit | Dec 31, 2011, 12:15 PM EST
It's not in Boston and there seems to be no end in viciousness coming from women against women, in this case. Very sad. What's happening to Massachusetts?

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Murph46 | Dec 31, 2011, 12:06 PM EST
No amount of money can compensate for loss of a daughter.

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