UK
Mia Janin’s dad says ‘there must be accountability’ after inquest found she took her own life
Mia’s father, Mariano, has said he believes she was cyber-bullied by other pupils at JFS
January 24, 2024 22:04
By, JC Reporter
2 min read
Mia’s father, Mariano, has said he believes she was cyber-bullied by other pupils at JFS
January 24, 2024 22:04ByJC Reporter, JC Reporter
The distraught father of bullied JFS girl Mia Janin has described his partial relief after an inquest has found that she took her own life.
Speaking outside the court, Mariano Janin said: “For almost three years we have sought answers for the loss of Mia. Today we found some of those answers and the failure of the people we trusted and were meant to keep her safe.
“My daughter experienced prolonged and sustained bullying in various ways in person and online. In a way it is a relief this has now been recognised, however, there needs to be accountability. Another family cannot live what I have lived.”
Earlier this week, Mia’s form tutor told the inquest he never saw her being picked on at school.
Mia Janin, a Year 10 pupil at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, north-west London, was found dead at her family home in Harrow on March 12 2021.
Her form tutor, Alistair Davey, told Barnet Coroner’s Court he did not remember her standing out as being isolated.
Mia’s father, Mariano Janin, has said he believes she was cyber-bullied by other pupils at JFS.
“I was unaware of any group chats relating to Mia,” Mr Davey told the inquest on Wednesday.
“She was a quiet, thoughtful and considerate girl. When she spoke, people listened.”
The inquest heard that Mia’s mother, Marisa Janin, had contacted the school to say her daughter was feeling lonely and isolated.
In one communication with staff, Ms Janin – who has since died – said Mia was upset at being one of the few children to “never have been invited to the bar mitzvahs of the girls in her class”.
Statements given by friends of Mia to the Metropolitan Police following her death were read out to the inquest on Tuesday.
In the statements, her friends said Mia was bullied by other pupils at the school, and that their friendship group was nicknamed the “suicide squad” in the months leading up to her death.
They said one of Mia’s TikToks was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at JFS, where they made fun of her.
One child said the boys used the group chat to share nude photos of girls.
But North London area coroner Tony Murphy said there was no evidence that any images or videos involving Mia had been shared in the group chat, except for a TikTok video she posted the night before she returned to school.
The inquest has previously heard that Rabbi Howard Cohen, former deputy headteacher at JFS, told the boys to close down the group after Mia’s death.
JFS Head teacher Dr David Moody told The JC: “I would like to thank the coroner for his investigation. Whilst I was not in post at the time of Mia's death, I can only promise that we will continue to do everything we can to embed all of the changes that have been put in place over the last three years. Mia remains a hugely missed member of our school community and our thoughts continue to be with the family."
Copy by Press Association
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