Two teenagers have escaped jail despite pleading guilty to charges relating to the death of Fanore teenager Phoebe Prince in the US
The 15 year old took her life last year after a prolonged bullying campaign against her at a school in South Hadley, Massachusetts where her family had moved to from North Clare.
Under a pre-arranged agreement with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Sean Mulveyhill pleaded guilty to the criminal harassment of Phoebe Prince and was sentenced to a year’s probation.
A pre-existing charge of statutory rape and a felony charge of violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury were dropped.
Fellow accused Kayla Narey admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding on a misdemeanour criminal harassment charge
Both 18-year-olds were sentenced to 100 hours community service, were told not to make contact with the Prince family and were barred from profiting from their involvement in the case.
Speaking at Hampshire Superior Court where the sentencing hearings took place, Phoebe’s mother Ann O’Brien said Narey "had the opportunity to end her daughter’s torment… but is not capable of compassion."
Ann O’Brien also said Phoebe had trusted Sean Mulveyhill, with whom she had a brief relationship, but said she now viewed him as a "predator"
Three other teenagers charged in relation to the case – Ashley Longe, Flannery Mullins and Sharon Velazquez – are to appear in court today when they too are expected to plead guilty to reduced charges.
A sixth student, Austin Renaud, is charged with statutory rape, but is not accused of bullying Prince. His case is still listed to go to trial and he will next appear in court in July.
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