Victim of Cyberbullying: Incident Overview
Ryan Patrick Halligan, a 13-year-old boy from Essex Junction, Vermont, committed suicide as a result of being bullied by his peers in person and online. He was initially bullied in Hiawatha Elementary School and then in Albert D. Lawton Middle School due to his developmental delays and emotional sensitivity. The “ringleader” was a bully Ryan fought and beat, and they later became friends. But after Halligan was examined at the hospital for stomachaches, he spread a story that Ryan was gay, which resulted in Ryan being harassed even more. When Halligan’s father approached the bully, who had been making fun of Ryan even after he killed himself, the bully finally offered a heartfelt apology (“Suicide of Ryan”).
Analysis and Prevention Strategies
As stated in the lawsuit, Ryan’s father, John Halligan, suggested that they speak with the school administrator. Still, Ryan opted to pursue martial arts as self-defense, which only slightly assisted him. While Ryan thought informing the principal of the problem would only worsen it, it could have stopped it.
Following a proposal provided by Halligan’s father, the state of Vermont passed a Suicide Prevention Law (Act 114) in 2005 and the Bullying Prevention Policy Law in 2004 (“Suicide of Ryan”). The law could have prevented the tragedy if approved a few years earlier. Still, it does provide resources to assist educators and other caregivers in identifying and addressing teen depression and suicide risk. As a result, Halligan killed himself after being left helpless, and his bullies received no justice or punishment.
Source Analysis and Broader Implications
The article utilized for this project was found on the Academic website, and the data it contained was sourced from reliable sources. Cyberbullying in America is facing a large number of legal issues. For instance, legal changes to how it is viewed and prosecuted by school and state officials are only made after a tragedy has occurred. This is demonstrated by the case of Ryan Halligan, where the two statutes that prevented suicide and bullying were passed only after the victim’s story attracted notice from the general public (“Suicide of Ryan”). Lawmakers, in my opinion, should be more aware of and proactive in addressing the issues affecting kids and teenagers.
Work Cited
“Suicide of Ryan Halligan.” Academic. Web.