Heartbreaking emails mum sent Santa Sabina College before daughter Charlotte O'Brien took her own life after being bullied

The mother of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life has shared emails she says prove she 'begged' the school to act over the severe bullying against her daughter.

Charlotte O'Brien, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College at Strathfield in Sydney's inner-west, took her own life earlier this month.

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Wednesday that Charlotte had learned of her biological father's violent criminal past. 

She told fellow students about what he had done, which mother Kelly O'Brien said prompted constant bullying.

Messages seen by Daily Mail Australia show the family and the school in conversation about Charlotte's claims she was being bullied over her disclosure.

In exchanges dated August 2022, Ms O'Brien wrote to Santa Sabina saying she is 'so worried about Charlotte being bullied because of the information that come to light'.

Ms O'Brien wrote she would 'hate to uproot Charlotte and start her at a new school again' but 'the ramifications bullying has on mental health are just too severe'.

The school responded: 'At Santa, we take bullying extremely seriously. Please be assured we will do everything to support Charlotte and you.'

It also said counselling was being arranged for Charlotte.

Ms O'Brien also wrote to  Charlotte's teacher and stated she was 'overwhelmed with the support' they had provided to the girl.

'We will continue to keep an eye on her and support Charlotte in whatever way we can,' the teacher replied. 

In November 2022, Ms O'Brien wrote to the school to express new concerns with Charlotte.

'She (Charlotte) has now sent me an email with multiple crying faces and said she's having a hard time with the girls,' Ms O'Brien wrote.

As recently as August 2024, Charlotte's mother informed Santa Sabina that Charlotte was too upset to attend school.

'Unfortunately Charlotte will not be in today. She has been coming home in tears the last few weeks over friendship issues.

'This morning Charlotte is very distressed. So she will stay to collect herself.'

Then on September 10, Charlotte's mother revealed the tragic news that her daughter had taken her own life. 

'My beautiful girl took her own life because of the relentless friendship issues she faced,' she wrote.

'I was scared to label it bullying but that's exactly what it was.'

'I'd begged the school to intervene … I wish I had been stronger and demanded it be fixed!' she wrote.

On Monday, Charlotte's family spoke out in a statement issued to 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham, demanding that the bullying they claim drove their daughter into helpless despair over a two-year period not be 'swept under the carpet'.

The school's response on Monday was the family's allegations 'were new and inconsistent with their records'.

'She wrote a goodbye note specifically mentioning the bullying she received at the school,' Charlotte's mother said.

'She said life was too difficult for her to continue.

'When the most recent case of bullying was raised, the school simply said it was investigated and the girls denied it. That's it. Case closed. Move on.

'Well my beautiful daughter's life won't move on and I'll never get to say goodbye.

'These issues cannot be swept under the carpet. I will not let my daughter's memory be swept under the carpet either.

'How many more children need to lose their lives before they get it? How many parents need to feel the pain of never being able to pick up their child from school again before they get it?

'We're broken forever.' 

Experts say suicide is complex and can only rarely be attributed to one factor alone. 

The highest risk factors for youth suicide are believed to be a mental health condition or a physical disability, but bullying, family problems and grief are also considered risk factors. 

Santa Sabina College has been contacted for comment. 

For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14