THE DUBLIN county coroner has called on a west Dublin school to seek assistance from suitably qualified professionals in the event of pupils expressing suicidal thoughts, following the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy.
The boy was found hanging from a basketball ring in the back garden of the family home on June 29th, 2007, the day he finished fourth class.
An inquest into the boy's death at Dublin County Coroner's Court yesterday heard that his teacher had been made aware by a colleague that the boy had expressed suicidal thoughts to another pupil the month before his death.
The 10-year-old used his brother's mobile phone to send a text message to a female pupil in fifth class stating that he was going to kill himself if he did not make the school athletics team.
The teacher immediately discussed the matter with the boy, was reassured that it was just a joke and decided there was no reason for her to "pursue the issue any further with him or his parents".
"I asked him did it matter to him that he didn't make the team for the athletics. He said 'no it didn't'. He admitted then to having texted the girl and said he was only messing . . . I was satisfied he was only messing." The text was not sent during school hours.
He didn't make the team, the teacher told the inquest.
The teacher monitored the boy and said he displayed no behaviour at any time that caused her concern.
"He was a happy and pleasant boy at all times. On the final school day of the year, June 29th, 2007, he was very happy."
The coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty recommended that in the event of any child making any suggestions that they would take their own life, it should be the policy of the school that a qualified expert would make inquiries into the matter and it should also be school policy to notify the parents.
The court heard that the boy, who was described in court as being happy-go-lucky, mannerly and an absolute joy, returned home at 12.10pm on June 29th and played football with a friend before going to the shop for his sister.
His mother told the court that the boy had recently told a cousin he wanted to be a stuntman or a zookeeper when he grew up and was excited about going into fifth class.
His mother said he "wasn't in trouble or wasn't upset at anything" and was going to a kiddies disco that evening.
"He had no fears since he was young," she said, adding that she had no doubt that what happened was as a result of him "playacting".
Just the previous evening she and her husband had to "let a roar" at him to stop swinging from the basketball hoop where he was found dead, she said.
The coroner recorded an open verdict.