Prosecutors in Sevilla have opened two formal investigations following the tragic suicide of Sandra Peña.
The 14-year-old student took her own life after allegedly being bullied by classmates at her private Catholic school, Irlandesas de Loreto.
The Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it will investigate both the students accused of bullying Sandra and the school’s handling of the case, after it was revealed that staff failed to activate either the school’s anti-bullying or suicide prevention protocols – despite repeated warnings from the girl’s mother.
The first line of inquiry will examine the actions of the three girls allegedly involved in the bullying. It comes after photos purporting to be the trio went viral online over the weekend.
The Policia Nacional’s juvenile unit (Grume) is preparing a report to be handed to prosecutors, which will identify the minors, their ages and the specific acts they are accused of.
Prosecutors say age is a crucial factor, as it determines whether the suspects can be held criminally responsible under Spanish law.
The second investigation will focus on the actions – or lack thereof – of the school once it became aware of the alleged bullying.
According to sources close to the case, the school did not initiate the mandatory anti-bullying protocol, instead opting to merely separate Sandra from the girls named in the complaint, and only after Sandra’s mother explicitly requested it.
Documents show that the school even proposed placing Sandra in the same class as one of the accused, while assigning the other two to a parallel class – a proposal the mother refused outright.
The regional Ministry of Education confirmed that no formal protocol was activated, despite clear obligations to do so under current legislation.
An administrative investigation has now been opened to determine whether the school breached its legal responsibilities.
Sandra’s mother made two formal complaints to the school, one at the end of the previous school year and another before the current term began, both of which were allegedly ignored.
Following the first complaint, no action was taken by the school. Sandra then began psychological treatment over the summer. Ahead of the new academic year, her mother again warned the school and begged them to keep her daughter away from the same classmates.
The only action taken was that separation, again, only following parental insistence.
The tragedy has reignited concern over the effectiveness of Spain’s anti-bullying protocols. A survey by the CSIF teachers’ union found that 63.3% of teachers in Sevilla had dealt with bullying cases themselves – but only 10% felt properly trained to intervene.
The union’s local education spokesperson, Manuela Tagua, described the findings as ‘alarming’, adding: ‘Teachers are not given the training or resources they need. The protocols are weighed down by red tape and have proven inadequate when real situations arise.’
If you are affected by this story, support is available. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. In Spain, the national suicide prevention helpline is 024.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
