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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Phoebe Prince called 'Irish whore' in front of school official - who did nothing

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Phoebe Prince called 'Irish whore' in front of school official - who did nothing

Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 09:51 PM

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The day Phoebe Prince died, Sean Mulveyhill, Kayla Narey and Ashley Longe, three accused in her bullying related death, were in the school's library loudly yelling "Irish whore" and other insults at Prince.

Now the district attorney's report says those taunts occurred in the presence of a teacher who did not report it. Three of the girls accused, Ashley Longe (left), Flannery Mullins and Sharon Velazquez are pictured above.

New court documents also show that Phoebe Prince, the Irish student at South Hadley High in Massachusetts who hanged herself, reported she was being bullied to an unnamed school administrator one week before she committed suicide.

A witness quoted in the documents said Prince returned to class and said no action was going to be taken and that she was "still going to get beat up."

As new details on the bullying of Phoebe Prince have begun to emerge, the failure of school officials to intervene has become more evident despite many warnings.

The documents show that as far back as Dec. 2009, a student told a teacher that Mullins, who is now under indictment, was screaming and threatening Phoebe in the hallway and bathroom of the high school.

Then on the week of Jan. 7, just a week week before Phoebe's death, students told investigators that Velazquez was swearing and yelling at Prince in front of teachers in the cafeteria. The teachers did nothing about it.

However, Velazquez was suspended later that day when a teacher saw her yelling at Prince in Latin class.

Darby O'Brien, a local public relations specialist who speaks for the family, says "If one adult, one official from that school had stepped in during that time, this wouldn't have happened.

"Why didn't the officials stop it? Never stepped in and stopped it. They claimed they knew about it the week she died, and now we know that's not true," said O'Brien.

The documents also show the suspects' reactions after Prince was found dead.

One student all told investigators that Velazquez told her, "she wasn't the only person that caused Phoebe's death and that she didn't care that she was dead."

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KathleenBerrio | Apr 14, 2010, 09:19 PM EDT

When these girls go to jail, they'll get their justice from the other prisoners.

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galway2001 | Apr 12, 2010, 08:23 PM EDT

I hope all those girls go to jail for a long long time also the teachers and the principal and the boys that was involved

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addielouise | Apr 12, 2010, 06:56 PM EDT

I was a high school librarian and the comment by Liamkeyes is also true. When caught doing something that was considered delinquent behavior, parents would call me names and insist their child "never lies." And this, too, should never be allowed.

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addielouise | Apr 12, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT

My son was also bullied and the principal told me to take him for boxing lessons. It demonstrates how our colleges are not teaching future teachers practical techniques for handling discipline and bullying. This was deplorable and the principal should be let go.

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killowen | Apr 12, 2010, 06:51 PM EDT

Blame is on America's culture that has set rot across our globe thru all types of media. Listen to the junk played on worldwide radio and you'll know of its origin, it Amerikansky.

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sully1167 | Apr 12, 2010, 04:44 PM EDT

Don't blame the teachers, blame the a*****e parents who should not be allowed to mate!

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Liamkeyes | Apr 12, 2010, 11:44 AM EDT

I hope the whole truth comes out. In fairness to the teachers, how many times when a Teacher takes action and then has to contend with the Parents who shout and roar that their children are Angels....As for the "Jock Quarterback" his atheltic career is over. He would never be able function outside a small town.

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logan90980 | Apr 12, 2010, 11:14 AM EDT

I am deeply saddened by the treatment of this beautiful young lady. My heart breaks for her and her family. I believe she is only one of thousands who are treated this way in school though. Unless they crack down on this kind of behavior it will continue.

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dottiedolittle | Apr 12, 2010, 10:57 AM EDT

What brats! And what are their parents teaching them at home?

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Searlit | Apr 12, 2010, 10:01 AM EDT

I'm glad we're all still posting comments about the extreme bullying that was inflicted upon Phoebe Prince. It's a good sign that the courts may take action, if they have the pressure of the press on them.

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beachline | Apr 12, 2010, 09:36 AM EDT

BamaDeb, bullying happens in all schools, public, private or otherwise. When this goes to trial I hope all the facts are revealed and the adults responsible for this childs death are sentenced to an appropriate punishment. I am not an attorney, but the term "negligent homicide" comes to mind.

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Red | Apr 12, 2010, 09:07 AM EDT

Barbarians! I was a teacher and no student would have dared to harass anyone in our school. The teachers and other employees who witnessed this harassment and done nothing should have been fired!

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quixotic | Apr 12, 2010, 09:00 AM EDT

Bama Deb is wrong. Having spent 46 years in public and catholic high schools the bullying happens in both. The teachers shrug it off as 'kids being kids'. We do not have time for the programs to conteract it because we are testing our kids to death. It is so common to have popular girls angry with the newcomer who challenges their pecking order in the dating game. Seldom does it reach this level but, trust me, very many kids are scarred by bulling in adolescence. Take it seriously.

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NyackGal | Apr 12, 2010, 08:52 AM EDT

This is what happens in a climate of immorality and Godlessness.I fear for my grandchildren,as anyone can be targeted for this kind of bullying...and it's contagious!It only takes one child/thug to start the name-calling against another one and the followers join in.

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tombovo | Apr 12, 2010, 08:49 AM EDT

The teachers and administrators that failed to do anything are not fit to be in a school. To start, they must be fired and the state must not allow them to work with children. Criminal charges should follow.

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