Grieving students at Peggy Barry Primary School get counselling following death of 8-y-o

Students and staff at Peggy Barry Primary School in Westmoreland on Monday received counselling following the gruesome death of 8-year-old Jahmiel Richardson who perished in a house fire on Friday.

Richardson, who was a grade three student, and who lived in Top Lincoln Grange Hill, died in a blaze at his home.

His mother Sherone McDonald has since been taken into custody pending further investigations.

This morning, his grieving classmates sang worship songs and placed floral arrangements on his desk as they mourned his death.

Koren Fraser William, principal of the school, said the students, though stricken with grief, are responding well to the counselling.

“We are not able to have regular school because we are counselling our students and staff today,” Fraser Williams explained.

The Peggy Barry Primary School administrator says her students turn out for school and that they remain optimistic even as they process the circumstances under which their schoolmate lost his life.

Reports from the Morgan's Bridge police in Westmoreland are that about 11:40 pm, on Friday, April 26, Richardson was alone in the house when it caught fire.

The police said his mother, who was on the outside at the time of the fire, raised an alarm and the fire department was contacted.

The report also states that following the cooling down operation by the fire brigade, the lifeless body of Jahmiel was seen lying on the ground. 

- Albert Ferguson

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