Pupils helped over the trauma

The teenager drowned in Drumahoe last week, after he went into the river Faughan while being chased by police.

He was laid to rest on Sunday, in Ballyoan Cemetery, after a service at Glendermott Presbyterian Church.

The principal, David Funston said: "As a school community we are deeply saddened by the death of one of our pupils. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kyle's family and friends at this very difficult time.

"This week the school implemented a plan which allowed pupils an opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings with trained staff from the WELB's Critical Incident Response Team. All the pupils in the school were informed that they could speak to a counsellor or turn to any member of staff for support," he said.

The counsellors and Reverend Knox Jones from the school's Board of Governors spoke to Kyle's classmates on Monday and offered them support.

The school also held special assemblies on Monday and Tuesday to remember Kyle and give pupils the chance together to consider the time spent with him and to come to terms with their feelings of loss.

Chairman of the Board of Governors at Lisneal College, Bertie Faulkner, said he had spent considerable time with the family following the tragedy.

Traumatised

"What has happened is tragic, absolutely tragic for the family and everyone concerned. I have spoken to Kyle's mummy, Fiona, and his stepdad, and in meeting his friends and pupils to Lisneal I have to say that it is very evident to me that they are all quite traumatised by what has occurred. We have had councillors in the College to ensure the yong people who need it can talk about how they feel. The sympthy of the Board of Governors goes out to the family at this time," he said.

Mr Faulkner also paid tribute to Kyle's mother, stepdad and particularly his grandparents who had worked closely with the school to ensure Kyle received the care and attention he needed.

A Governor at Lisneal College and local UUP Alderman, Mary Hamilton, said her heart went out to the family and friends of Kyle Bonnes.

"I want to sympathise with the family of this young boy who was so tragically taken from his friends and family on Wednesday. Whatever the circumstances, he was still a much-loved son and grandson and his death will leave a huge gap in his family circle," she said.

"I think this young boy's death should be a wake-up call to adults everywhere to pay greater attention to the needs of young people in the community rather than dismissing them or ignoring them.

"As a governor of Lisneal College I know that the school is offering a much-needed counselling service to pupils who feel they want to talk about what happened, and I think this is what is lacking in other aspects of their lives -adults who are prepared to listen to them and heed what they are saying. We all need to listen to our children and young people more," she said.

A Western Education and Library Board (WELB) spokesperson said: "The Board is providing support to the school through its Critical Incident Response Team and will continue to do so for as long as necessary."