Articles by Editor,Jonica Bray

Technology

Child allegedly responsible for stabbing five-year-old girl in the HEAD at St Philomena's primary school in Moree is 'allowed to return' - as disturbing photo emerges of the aftermath

The mother of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly stabbed in the head by a classmate at a primary school has been left furious after the child was allowed to return to school grounds. Eliza, whose daughter attends St Philomena's School in Moree, northern NSW, claims her little girl was 'covered in blood' after being attacked with a pencil in the classroom on September 17. She told Daily Mail her daughter has been left so traumatised by the ordeal - which landed her in hospital - that she now refuses to play during break time. This week, Eliza was informed the school had decided to allow the boy back on a part-time basis. 'Got the official decision back this morning that the little boy who stabbed her will be allowed back at school next Monday,' she said. 'The school have spent money to create a new position and employ someone specifically for him. 'They have also moved him to another kindergarten class.' Eliza alleged that the school had described the horrifying ordeal as a 'puncture,' and has refused to answer her repeated pleas for answers. 'Upon my arrival at the school after being informed an ambulance had to be called for my daughter due to a large amount of blood coming from her head, the staff at the school refused to tell me how she sustained her injury,' she said. 'I have no information regarding the stabbing from anyone at the school. The only information I have is what my daughter has been able to tell me herself.' During a meeting on Thursday, Eliza said staff told her they had not failed in their duty of care and had not made any reports to the Department of Communities and Justice about the incident. 'Armidale Catholic Schools' office have kindly created and funded an entirely new position specifically for the child who stabbed her, to be watched,' she said. 'At this stage he is only allowed to return from 8:30 to 11am, and they feel they have minimised the risk enough for him to return. 'Money they are so quickly willing to spend that could have much better use and benefits to all the kids if the school had just done the right thing and removed this dangerous little boy from the school altogether. 'But they are adamant they want him back.' Eliza claims that parents of children in the new class were not consulted about the decision to move the boy, despite fears for their own kids' safety. 'I questioned why the school felt so confident that sending this kid home early would make any difference as this same child has already been sent home early multiple times this year and continued to display unacceptable behaviours,' she said. 'But they seem to think that because they've done a risk assessment this time, everything is fine and dandy.' Eliza claimed every accommodation had been made for the child who caused harm, while she now faces the difficult task of explaining the situation to her daughter. 'I now have to somehow explain why she will still have to face her (alleged) abuser, why the school have not prioritised her safety and education,' she said. She also claims that during a meeting with school officials she was singled out for being 'abusive'. 'I was so very quickly labelled abusive in my meeting this morning despite me not raising my voice once,' she said. In September, Armidale Catholic Schools - the parent body for St Philomena's - said it was aware of the incident and managing the situation. 'Armidale Catholic Schools is undertaking a review to determine next steps,' a statement read at the time. 'This decision will be carefully and thoughtfully made, considering multiple factors and the safety and best interests of all children in our care.' Armidale Catholic Schools said the child who allegedly stabbed Eliza's daughter was then being 'kept out' of school until the school had completed 'appropriate procedures'. 'Armidale Catholic Schools takes its responsibility to all children, families and staff very seriously,' the statement read. 'The safety of our students, staff and the community continues to be our priority.' The organisation was approached for comment about the child's return to school.