‘We don’t want another child to suffer’ – grieving family of Mia speak out against bullies
THE grieving family of a teenager who died by suicide told how she named bullies in a letter before her death.
Mia O’Neill (16) died after suffering horrific racial abuse and bullying from her peers, her family claims.
Her devastated grandfather Willie said his “heart is breaking” and he has a “knot in his stomach” after losing his first granddaughter in such a senseless manner.
However, her family have said they will not go on a “witch-hunt” against the bullies – and are instead setting up a foundation in her name to provide a supportive environment to vulnerable teens.
Fighting back tears, Willie said: “It’s hard to talk about Mia in the past tense.
“My heart is breaking for what happened to her, the bullying especially.
“Mia loved me and I loved her.
“It breaks my heart: I hate having to go the graveyard to visit her.
“She was very special,” he said.
Mia, who had dreams of becoming a make-up artist, was such a kind young girl, Willie added, saying he feels so sorry for her friends – dubbed Mia’s army – who helped mark her month’s mind last week.
Her grandfather added she was the “soul and life” of the party, while her uncle Marc added: “She was a force to be reckoned with. A very headstrong young lady but with a heart of gold.
“Over the last month, we’ve heard of stories I wasn’t aware of.
“She used to be in Limerick with friends and if she saw a homeless person in need, she would spend money out of her own pocket to make sure they felt wanted and valued.”
The O’Neill family have set up the One Life Trust, the name reflecting a tattoo Mia had.
The family has identified a building in Newport, Co Tipperary, and hope to provide a safe space for children aged from 12 to 18.
In the same way as the Men’s Shed movement, they hope the model can be replicated across the country.
“We don’t want to see another child suffer at the hands of a failing system, or the hands of a bully, or at the hands or something that could be stopped.
“We want to be strong for others who can’t,” said Marc, who was a volunteer with the Pieta House charity.
“It’s still very raw. But we are trying to put our energy into something good.”
With the presence of smartphones, school-yard bullying is no longer as bad as it gets for children.
Mia was bullied around-theclock until the day she died, according to her family.
“It was Mia’s month’s mind yesterday and you could see with the kids coming together, how compassionate and supportive they were to one another,” he said.
“But there’s another side to that, where you can see how ugly, negative and horrible people can be to one another. There is extremes in everyone,” Marc said.
Mia also suffered racist bullying, he added. “There is a toxic environment in Ireland and racial abuse is there, it’s undeniable,” he said.
“Are we living in a society that’s gone so extreme?
“When we look at the world and the way it’s constructed right now, it’s the most poisonous vacuum any young person can grow up in.
“We need to remain strong for other people who are not strong.”
Mia was diagnosed with an emotional regulation disorder, and had suffered from mental health issues since the age of 12.
You can get involved in One Life Ireland by looking it up on Facebook.