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Ronan Hughes: Funeral to be held later of Coalisland schoolboy who 'took own life after online trick' | Ronan Hughes: Funeral to be held later of Coalisland schoolboy who 'took own life after online trick' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The funeral of a County Tyrone schoolboy understood to have taken his own life after being tricked into posting images on a social networking site is due to be held later. | The funeral of a County Tyrone schoolboy understood to have taken his own life after being tricked into posting images on a social networking site is due to be held later. |
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Ronan Hughes, 17, from Coalisland. | Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Ronan Hughes, 17, from Coalisland. |
He died on Friday, 5 June. | He died on Friday, 5 June. |
His funeral is due to take place at Clonoe Parish Church at 11:00 BST on Tuesday. | His funeral is due to take place at Clonoe Parish Church at 11:00 BST on Tuesday. |
Police said a crime is not suspected and inquiries are continuing. | Police said a crime is not suspected and inquiries are continuing. |
They issued advice to young people about the need to be careful when using the internet. | They issued advice to young people about the need to be careful when using the internet. |
Mid-Ulster district commander Supt Mike Baird described the boy's death as "tragic". | Mid-Ulster district commander Supt Mike Baird described the boy's death as "tragic". |
It is understood that Ronan had told his parents and the police of his concerns about the online images last week. | |
Parish priest Fr Benedict Fee blamed "faceless individuals" for intimidating the teenager. | |
"Ronan didn't take his own life - it was taken from him by faceless people who put the child into a burning building he felt he could not escape," Fr Fee told parishioners on Sunday. | |
'Popular' | |
Ronan was a pupil at St Joseph's Grammar in Donaghmore, County Tyrone, and was also a talented Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) player. | |
His head teacher, Geraldine Donnelly, published a statement on the school's website expressing sadness at the "untimely death of our dear pupil". | His head teacher, Geraldine Donnelly, published a statement on the school's website expressing sadness at the "untimely death of our dear pupil". |
It is understood that Ronan's schoolfriends will form a guard of honour at his funeral. | |
He was a member of Clonoe O'Rahilly's GAA club in County Tyrone, and in a statement they said they were "shocked and saddened" by his death. | |
They described him as a "quiet and modest young lad who was popular among all players and coaches". | They described him as a "quiet and modest young lad who was popular among all players and coaches". |
"His death has left a dark shadow hanging over our club," they said. | "His death has left a dark shadow hanging over our club," they said. |
SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster that Ronan "had everything to live for". | |
"For these people to bring somebody like that down to the point where they think they have no way out - you can't really imagine just what would go through a young person's mind for that to happen," he said. | |
Online safety expert Wayne Denner said the case showed the impact of technology on the lives of young people and the challenges that can bring. | |
"Mistakes are going to be made, but we need to educate [young people] on how to take control of their online reputation and how to use social media and the internet to their advantage, not to their disadvantage," Mr Denner said. | |
"Don't connect with people you don't know, know how to set up your privacy settings, and fundamentally, don't post anything online that you're not happy with going on a global billboard. | |
"Effectively, once it makes its way online it's very difficult to take it down." | |
If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, you can contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or visit their website. |