(Wingham, North Huron) Citizens and some authorities are calling for a lockdown and closure of F.E. Madill High School in Wingham over fears of history repeating itself. Every school child knows the story of the Black Donnellys. On Feb. 4, 1880, members of the Lucan community rose up against those they believed were terrorizing the area, killing several members of the Donnelly family and burning down their home. Those involved in Canada’s most infamous vigilante incident were never convicted, as the community largely stood together in silence.
Within hours of a student allegedly being doused with an accelerant and set on fire at F.E. Madill Secondary School, residents were openly calling for the accused family to receive the “Black Donnellys treatment.” Virtually the entire town knows who the accused are and the history surrounding them.
Many residents view the Ontario Provincial Police closing the case before the victim has a chance to speak as a horrific dereliction of duty. Critics argue the victim is being failed yet again. Some residents believe the justice system too often punishes victims and rewards aggressors. Similar criticism has also been directed at schools, where some say bullying victims are disciplined for defending themselves while chronic aggressors face few meaningful consequences. Critics argue this conditions children to remain silent and fearful rather than seek help or stand up for themselves.
This, combined with widely publicized allegations involving Huron OPP officers, three active SIU investigations, and ongoing controversy surrounding the Falconer incident, has led to what many describe as a near-total collapse of public confidence in the Huron OPP. Citizens and some non-culpable authorities are now calling for the immediate closure of F.E. Madill Secondary School until significant changes are made and conditions that could allow such an incident to occur no longer exist.
One citizen stated:
“If a dog was doused with gas and burned to death at the kennel you use, would you send your dog back there? Of course not. So why would you send your child back to F.E. Madill?”