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A girl from Co Antrim has been forced to change schools and move house after a campaign of bullying.

The young girl claims that after enrolling in Glengormley High School in September last year she was subjected to a campaign of bullying by a number of girls leading to an attack in a locker bay and Facebook threats.

Speaking to the Stephen Nolan Show, the young girl – who wanted to remain anonymous – recalls how in one instance bullies attempted to set her hair on fire and threatened her on social media.

"They started telling me they were going to do things to me, after that in the dinner line, girls had stood beside me and tried to light my hair on fire," she said.

"They started saying they were going to beat me black and blue and everything and that they were going to bring a knife in to me and stab me.

"I didn't like going to school then and before that I used to love going to school and playing with my friends and get on with learning and everything and now that they have came along I don't want to go to school."

The young girl also recalled another incident outside of school where she was almost forced into a river.

She added: "We were at the river and people started shouting 'push her in the river' and I would have been in the river if my friend hadn't of stopped me from going in.

"After that we tried to get away, we ran up the hill and they started throwing Lucozade bottles and beer bottles at us.

"I was just wondering why were they doing it to me, I never done anything on them. I wasn't really crying much it was only when they really annoyed me and I hated going to school since that.

"Sometimes before school I'd be up in my room thinking, I don't want to go to school, I was actually hoping that my mum had forgotten about school, but she never did."

The girl's mother said she was forced to move her whole family away from the area to protect her.

She said: "I dreaded her going out that door, I was having real bad panic attacks and everytime the phone rang, I'd have jumped, because I thought today is the day something serious is going to happen.

"I'd phoned the school a couple of times and it seemed the teachers would say that they dealt with it, they had spoke to these people, but then it started to come outside of school.

"Everyone seemed to be threatening my daughter and as I read through [the social media threats] I seen where they were going to assist her in buying a piece of rope.

"As soon as I seen that message I was straight on the phone to the school. For a week or two there was nothing and I thought, finally, this is over, but then it just went out of control, to the point where I had to get the police."

She continued: "I got a phonecall to say that that there had been a problem at the youth club. My daughter and her wee friend had been locked in the office for their own protection.

"I then got a video of this and there must have been 20 to 30 people surrounding her, all f-ing and blinding, I wouldn't have coped if that had happened to me and I'm an adult.

"The day before that there was an incident in Tesco where she was cornered and they flicked cigarettes into her hair, they threw cat food at her.

"She had been really brave saying 'Mum, I'm going into school, I'm not letting them stop me,' but by then they had broke her.

"That was the day we decided, we need to move.

"We had to move house for my daughter's safety."

Speaking about an incident at the school, the pupils mother said: "I have no tolerance for fighting. I got a video of it because it did the rounds on social media, where my daughter is standing in the corridor talking to her friends when she is attacked.

"She had tried to not fight but she had no option, you can't walk away when someone trails ya.

"Why is the victim of the bullying that has to walk away and leave the school? They tried to set my daughter's hair on fire.

"My daughter couldn't get away from someone attacking her and she was suspended.

"I'm an adult and it got the stage where I had to lock my doors in the house because I was scared of someone coming to my door."

Glengormley High School responded to the Stephen Nolan Show saying: "The school takes any claims of bullying very seriously and we have a robust anti-bullying policy in place to deal with such issues. Where such allegations are made, the school acts in accordance with this policy.

"The school works with the Education Authority, the families and children concerned and other agencies as required to ensure that any issues relating to bullying are addressed as quickly and effectively as possible. Whilst it would be inappropriate for the school to comment on any individual case, we wish to assure parents that our policies and procedures are designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all pupils."

Meanwhile, the East Antrim Education Authority said it is aware of an issue within the school and has been working closely with the school and the family concerned to make every effort to ensure that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible."



The PSNI say they have received two reports and the investigation into the reports is still very much ongoing at present and they cannot comment any further.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate support call the freephone 24/7 crisis helpline and counselling service Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.