Mother's advert to shame bullies

Joyce Probert said she never blamed her son's school

A mother who says her 17-year-old son killed himself after being bullied has placed a newspaper advert to remind those involved of their actions.

Simeon Probert, from Menai Bridge, Anglesey, hanged himself in 1989.

In an advert in the Anglesey Mail, his mother Joyce, claimed the three remain "unrepentant" 17 years on.

She criticised authorities over how her bullying claims were handled. Anglesey Council said it had no comment.

Mrs Probert has placed a notice in the paper every year to mark the anniversary of Simeon's death on 24 April, 1989.

In recent years, she has added the strongly-worded anti-bullying statement in order to "shame" those she says bullied her son.

PROBERT (Simeon) Late of Menai Bridge. Died on the 24th of April 1989, and 17 years. School bullying must be combated. Silence and inaction condones bullying. The three bullies remain unchallenged and unrepentant Advert in Anglesey Mail

It reads: "School bullying must be combated. Silence and inaction condones bullying.

"The three bullies remain unchallenged and unrepentant."

Mrs Probert said she had "remained positive" since her son's death but said her attempts to "have an input" into anti-bullying initiatives met with a negative response.

She said: "I've tried to be positive in the 17 years since Simeon died and I'm not anti-teacher.

"What I wanted to do at the time was go into schools and talk to children about what happened but that was not taken up.

"I have never blamed the school and it's extremely difficult for them but I think these pupils could have been excluded after the event."

I want to remind the people involved and it's also a reminder that it was never talked about Joyce Probert

Mrs Probert said she had no idea her son was being bullied and only found out about it after his death.

She said: "The week before he died he said these three boys had excluded him but that was as much as I knew.

"I later found out he was having problems on a daily basis. He was suffering harassment from three boys his own age.

"There were signs - Simeon was learning to drive and he wanted to take the car to school rather than walk because he wanted to avoid them.

"But I had no real indication what was going on."

'Happy boy'

Mrs Probert said she placed the newspaper notice to remind those involved of their actions.

She said: "I want to remind the people involved and it's also a reminder that it was never talked about.

"I think things have improved and schools now have anti-bullying policies.

"Simeon was a happy boy...if he could have talked to someone, maybe it would have helped him."

Anglesey Council said it did not wish to comment on the matter.