The heartbroken parents of murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel are set to sue their local education board over her school’s response to allegations of bullying.
The family has lodged a formal complaint over how the school responded to allegations that 14-year-old Ana was the victim of serious bullying and harassment by fellow teens.
The Kriegels believe the school failed to properly address their concerns over how it was handling their fears that Ana was being bullied, The Sunday Times reported.
During the trial of the two teenage boys who were convicted of her murder, details emerged of the bullying and harassment that young Ana was subjected to prior to her horrific death on 14 May 2018 in a derelict house in Lucan, Co Dublin.
The schoolgirl, from Leixslip, Co Kildare, was repeatedly bullied and targeted through her social media accounts, and treated as an outcast by her peers. As a result, she attempted self-harm and had once had suicidal thoughts.
But regarding the new complaint that the Kriegel family has made, the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board confirmed to The Sunday Times that it is engaged with a statutory body concerning Ana, but said it could not comment further.
“KWETB is very mindful of the tragic circumstances of the death of Anastasia Kriegel and the anguish endured by her family,” a statement from the board said.
“In all our dealings with those affected, we seek to be respectful, supportive and sensitive.”
Meanwhile, Ana’s heartbroken parents have asked the two 15-year-old boys convicted of her murder to tell them why they brutally killed their beautiful daughter.
Devastated Geraldine and Patric Kriegel still have many unanswered questions surrounding Ana’s death, close family friend TD Catherine Murphy said.
She told how even after the six-week trial the family is none the wiser as to why the teenagers targeted Ana.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Sunday Mirror, Ms Murphy said: “Remorse, and having answers to those questions, is obviously something they would want to see.
“Even after that trial that went on for just over six weeks there are still two very different stories.
“Not only did they lose their precious Ana in such horrific circumstances but even when it came to her anniversary they were sitting in a court room listening to the details of her death in that trial.
“This is unprecedented in a whole lot of different ways. It’s just really tough.”
And she told how despite the killers being sentenced last week, Ana’s parents’ pain will never end.
Ms Murphy said: “It will never be over for them – that’s the reality and they know that. Nothing will bring Ana back.
“Geraldine made it very clear in her victim impact statement – that devastation. She put it better than anyone could put it.
“The community have been incredibly supportive and also very respectful in that people have not overwhelmed them. That is very much appreciated.
“She was a stunning, beautiful girl.”
