Warning: This story contains distressing content.
The alma mater of a Sydney schoolgirl who took her life over relentless bullying has apologised after the removal of her memorial caused distress.
Charlotte O’Brien, who died in September, attended Santa Sabina College in Strathfield in Sydney’s west and a public memorial was erected outside the school last week.
Family and friends of Charlotte told 9News they were “devastated” the memorial had been taken down after just a few days.
Now, principal Paulina Skerman has issued a statement and apologised to both Charlotte’s family and the wider Santa Sabina College community.
Skerman described the events as a “challenging week” and said a permanent memorial was being considered.
“We are devastated for Charlotte’s family and friends and acknowledge some of the College’s initial statements to the media were inadequate and hurtful,” Skerman said in a statement.
“We apologise to Charlotte’s family for this. It was never our intention to add to their pain.
“We acknowledge that at times our efforts have fallen short and we are sincerely sorry.”
Skerman cited the decision to remove Charlotte’s memorial was made to “balance the desire to honour Charlotte’s memory with our responsibility to prevent further distress among students”.
The principal said she had also visited Charlotte’s parents to discuss the issue.
“Ms Skerman was grateful to visit Charlotte’s parents Kelly and Mat to apologise to them personally,” the statement continued.
“We are committed to working together to create a permanent memorial to remember Charlotte. She will not be forgotten.”
“Words cannot express how devastated we were,” Rodger said.
“We came here to have a look for ourselves… and we found Charlotte’s grandfather wandering aimlessly up and down the street with a bunch of flowers trying to find the memorial site to lay his flowers.”
