A school in New Ross has put supports in place following the death of one of its pupils.
Eight-year-old Malikika Al Katib died yesterday (Monday) morning after suffering stab wounds in an assault at her home on Sunday night.
Her parents, both in their thirties, are receiving hospital treatment for non-life threatening stab injuries.
Local councillor, John Dwyer, says the community is in deep shock. He says “I got a call very early yesterday morning from my daughter who’s a young mother herself and from that point forward my phone never stopped ringing until I got a very distressing phone call from a young woman who was closely related to the child and I will never, as long as I live, forget that phone call, it was dreadful”.
New Ross Educate Together National School, which Malikika attended, says it’s a terrible tragedy for the family, the school and the community and has implemented a Critical Incident Management Plan.
The National Educational Psychological Service is supporting and advising teachers there in their efforts to assist the children to deal with the situation, and the school is also sharing information with parents about all available supports.
Journalist with the New Ross Standard, Jessica O’Connor, has been telling The KCLR Daily of the impact of the tragedy on the people of the locality;
