A funeral Mass for Daniel Fitzpatrick, a 13-year-old boy who committed suicide after claiming he was bullied at a Brooklyn Catholic school was held Aug. 17 at Sacred Heart Church, Staten Island.

The boy’s grieving family was joined by friends, Boy Scouts, bikers and community members. New York Auxiliary Bishop John O’Hara was the main celebrant of the Mass. Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop James Massa concelebrated.

‘Felt a Connection’

Veronica Hickman came to the funeral from the Bronx after she saw the funeral information on TV. In a newscast, she saw the parents cite bullying as a cause of the child’s death. She said she felt a connection with the boy because she too felt the effects of bullying in her youth.

“The family needs to know that people all around the world care,” she said. “I just wish I could have been somebody for that young boy.”

After his death, Daniel’s parents blamed school teachers and administrators at Holy Angels Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge, for his suicide, citing a note written by Daniel in early July as evidence.

In the handwritten letter, Danny said he was bullied but the principal and most teachers “didn’t do anything” to stop it.

Daniel’s story has received international attention and sparked public outrage. Images of Holy Angels and its principal have been defaced online, while more than a hundred messages left as Google reviews and on the school’s answering machine threaten school staff members and disparage students.

New Information Emerges

But as new information about Daniel’s home life emerges, the widespread narrative that blames bullying and uncaring teachers seems to oversimplify the circumstances of Daniel’s life.

According to The Washington Post, a report filed with New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services shows Daniel’s struggles may have started at home.

According to the Post, in November of 2015, an investigator wrote that Daniel was failing his classes and engaging in angry outbursts in class.

“Danny said mom being drunk affects him in everything and makes him angry,” the report stated. “He said dad also drinks, but controls himself more than mom. Student can’t remember a time when mom was not drunk often.”

The report continued, according to the Washington Post,

“Danny denies physical abuse by mom and dad, but says … his older sister, hides him in the attic or his room when mom is drunk. He says his dad and Kristen protect him.”

“Danny denies suicidal thoughts, but feels angry, sad, has thoughts of wanting to run away. Mother is blaming his teachers for his failures and has written several accusatory letters to school. Student is afraid of both parents anger.”

A lawyer for Daniel’s parents showed the post a letter from ACS, which states that local child protective service found “no credible evidence” to believe “that the child(ren) has been abused or maltreated.”

“Therefore,” the letter continues, “the report has been determined ‘unfounded.’”

“The belief is that the Catholic school themselves put in some sort of claim and spoke to the child and somehow twisted his claims,” Rynecki told The Post.

Tried to Help

Meanwhile, the teachers and school administrators at Holy Angels say they only cared for Daniel and did everything they knew how to help him.

According to a report in the New York Post, an unnamed teacher, said Danny told others that his parents were drinkers. She said the youngster would often fall asleep in class and be sent to the nurse’s office to get some rest.

“We knew he was going through a lot,” the teacher said. “We felt like him coming to school was his safe zone.”

Mike Long, chairman of the Board of Directors at Holy Angels, said Daniel was crying out for help. And the school had an obligation to do what it could.

In November of last year, Daniel began seeing the school guidance counselor. But after three sessions, when state guidelines require parental consent to continue therapy, Daniel’s parents refused.

The school suggested outside counseling, which Danny did begin to receive.

Danny, the youngest of four children, began attending Holy Angels in kindergarten when the family lived in Brooklyn. An older sister had also attended the school.

After fourth grade, the school informed Danny’s parents that it could not promote him due to failing grades. The family withdrew Danny and enrolled him at Blessed Sacrament School in West Brighton, Staten Island, where they had moved. There he repeated fourth grade.

Long told the New York Post, that a year later Danny’s father came to the Holy Angels’ principal and asked, “‘Could you please take Danny back? He’s having trouble in the school. There’s some bullying going on.’”

The school’s principal, Rosemarie McGoldrick, went to Long and said, “Mike, I’d like to do it.” She added Danny was not a bad boy but he was troubled and she felt the school could help him.

“‘He just has a lot of issues. I don’t think he gets a lot of support at home. I’d really like to do it because I think we can help him,’” the principal told Long, who agreed.

Long said that by seventh grade, the situation had deteriorated and boys who had once been Danny’s friends distanced themselves because of his erratic behavior.

Long said any time there was a conflict, the principal would address it.

One classmate said that Danny initiated conflicts with other students.

Danny’s grieving parents continue to say their son was bullied and they blame Holy Angels for failing to take action.

The Fitzpatrick family lawyer said the school is smearing the parents and denied that his mother has a drinking problem.

Danny was scheduled to attend Sacred Heart School on Staten Island this September. Instead, he was buried from the parish church.