STATEN ISLAND — The family of a 13-year-old boy who committed suicide after being bullied by classmates is suing the school, claiming it ignored pleas for help.
Daniel Fitzpatrick hanged himself with a belt at his West Brighton home in August. In a note, he wrote: "I gave up. The teachers didn't do anything."
His family said they repeatedly complained to teachers that he was being bullied over his weight and intelligence.
But their concerns fell on deaf ears, according to the suit.
Their wrongful death suit filed Thursday names Holy Angels Catholic Academy, it's principal Rosemarie McGoldrick, chairman of the school Michael Long and the Diocese of Brooklyn for failing to intervene, the New York Daily News first reported.
While his parents, Maureen and Daniel Fitzpatrick, complained to teachers about "the victimization, tormenting and bullying" of their son, staff never took action against his abusers or followed the school's anti-bullying rules, according to the suit.
Teachers responded instead with criticism of Fitzpatrick's performance, telling his parents he "had difficulty concentrating, fidgeted and was not doing well at school," according to the suit.
The problems extended beyond Holy Angels as the Diocese of Brooklyn had an "ongoing bullying issue that was occurring throughout their catholic school network" for years but it failed to fix it, the suit claims.
"Due to the pending lawsuit, The Diocese of Brooklyn cannot respond specifically about the case at this time," said spokesman Vito Fromica.
"However, the diocese is looking forward to the full disclosure of events in court that led to the tragic and heartbreaking loss of Daniel Fitzpatrick. Our prayers continue to be with his family during this difficult time."
Fitzpatrick was found dead inside his parents' attic on Aug. 11 by his 17-year-old sister, the News reported.
He left a handwritten note that detailed how he'd been picked on by students at Holy Angels for months and made pleas for help to his teachers.
"I wanted to get out," he wrote. A copy of the note provided by his family's lawyer Scott Rynecki. "I begged and pleaded."
The suit claims that the "negligence and recklessness" of teachers and staff to stop Fitzpatrick's bullying led him to take his own life.
It also blames chairman Long and principal McGoldrick for not enforcing the bullying rules of the diocese.
