Foyleview principal kept a ‘detailed log’ of events about his pupils in diary

Starting on Monday morning, October 12, 2009, the morning after Orla O’Kane’s death, the 125 point Critical Incident Diary shows that Mr Dobbins and the staff of Foyle View School took every step humanly possible to protect the entire school population.

It was the principal who had the unenviable task of informing staff members at the school of the death of Orla O’Kane and the fact that Ashleigh Lynch was “very ill in hospital with Swine Flu having been sent home from school the previous week.”

Examination of the Critical Incident Diary reveals the school dealt rationally and highly efficiently in exceptionally difficult circumstances and managed to balance the needs of vulnerable children, their parents as well as school staff. The report also reveals that a great deal of advice was sought and received from the Public Health Agency - an organisation that Mr Dobbins has reflected his admiration for in the period of crisis.

The head teacher also dealt extensively with the media at the time and provided regular updates on the situation to all those potentially affected.

The incident diary also houses some harrowing entries. One states: “Informed that Ashleigh (Lynch) was very ill, that they have stopped all treatments bar oxygen and that she is sleeping in bed.”

On October 21, Mr Dobbins writes: “Went with class team to deliver CD of school song to Ashleigh and parents in Altnagelvin. We saw Ashleigh and made our goodbyes.”

Later that afternoon another entry states: “Informed at 2pm that Ashleigh had died. Met with all staff at 3pm and informed them of Ashleigh’s death.”

Responding to the Sentinel’s investigation which poses questions over whether an urgent communication on how to deal with H1N1 swine flu was fully implemented, Mr Dobbins said: “This was the most difficult of times for our school when we lost two of our most loved pupils in the space of a week.

“The entire school community was deeply saddened at the loss of Orla and Ashleigh and our thoughts and prayers remain very firmly with both families. I am concerned that their grief will be further compounded by these recent developments and hope that they are given a full explanation of all the circumstances relating to these.”