10 hours ago
Grieving mum's brutal final parting shot at the school she blames for the suicide of her son
Shattered mum Clare McCann paraded her son's coffin past the school where she claims he was bullied to death, in a final defiant act during his funeral cortege.
McCann's son Atreyu died by suicide at his home in April aged just 13.
But before his heartbreaking funeral on Monday, she instructed the hearse driver to slowly take his coffin past South Sydney High School.
A pipe and drum escort joined the procession as it slowly made its way around the Maroubra campus, before heading to Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Waverley, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
'They will not get away with all they have done. They have to face justice!' Clare said in a searing Facebook post early yesterday morning.
McCann - a journalist and actress best known for starring in Channel V's Blog Party -said the bullying began in Atreyu's first week at the school in February and continued relentlessly until he died.
She alleges Atreyu was held underwater 'in a violent incident during a mud run' during a Year 7 camp from February 7 to 9, but no report was made to her.
She says Atreyu endured sexual harassment, threats and abuse throughout the camp and was not offered psychological support.
She also claims her son was subjected to a racial slur during sport, and verbal taunts about his size and appearance, which relate to a congenital condition.
According to Ms McCann, the school was informed in March that other students had crafted a weapon to coerce Atreyu into self harm, but no action was taken.
He missed multiple days of class, and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.
He ultimately took his own life at home after sending a last message expressing love and an apology. The message included a red heart emoji.
The distraught mum, who kissed photos of her son and hugged his coffin at the funeral, added: 'I begged for help.
'I submitted complaints. I shared medical records. No one listened.'
She believes the school 'silenced' a year seven student's apology to her son.
The student's online post stated, 'What I did was very wrong, bullying is not a joke. I realise that now. My deepest apologies'.
But that post was later deleted, with McCann believing 'teachers made' the student take it down.
The Education Department said the school denies telling the student to delete the post.
But Atreyu's mum furiously responded on social media, saying, 'The school are trying to cover up their inaction by coercing a 12-year-old-child!
'Now they are trying to deny it, but we have the evidence.'
On the day of Atreyu's funeral, McCann said: 'First they ignore and act in neglect, failing their duty of care. Then they try to cover it up. Now they lie.
'The Premier has stepped in. We will have justice for Atreyu'.
NSW Premier Chris Minns this week promised to assist McCann in her search for answers.
He said the government would 'do anything we can do to ease the family's pain in coming months and years'.
Like his mother, Atreyu had artistic aspirations.
In his short acting career, he won two drama awards and played roles in US documentary series Deadly Women, as well as a 2019 movie written, directed by and starring his mother called Benefited.
After Atreyu died, Clare attempted to raise $300,000 through a Gofundme appeal to have him cryogenically frozen.
'We only have one chance left to cryogenically preserve his body within the next seven days,' she wrote in May.
But she was unsuccessful in her bid to raise the cash needed.
At Monday's funeral, friends and family wiped away tears as McCann approached the pulpit, breathing heavily, before sharing stories of her lost 'best friend'.
She added: 'You were the most intelligent, funniest and talented person I've ever known.'
Help is available 24/7.
Lifeline: call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.
