In Barcelona, a judge has dismissed the criminal case against the parents of Kira López, a student at Manyanet Sant Andreu school who died by suicide in 2021 after alleging bullying. The school administration had accused the parents of defamation and insults due to their public statements on social media, where they held the school responsible for the tragedy. However, the court found that the parents’ words reflected their personal pain and did not exceed the bounds of freedom of expression.
According to the ruling reviewed by Europa Press, Kira López’s parents merely shared facts and emotions related to the loss of their daughter. Despite their harsh criticism of the school, the court found no evidence of criminal conduct in their statements. The magistrate noted that some expressions might seem harsh or unfortunate, but do not break the law. Moreover, the plaintiffs were unable to prove how the school’s reputation was actually harmed by these posts.
Case details and the court’s position
Manyanet Sant Andreu school attempted to resolve the conflict through a mediation process, but the parties failed to reach an agreement. After that, the institution filed a criminal complaint, alleging that the parents were intentionally discrediting the school. The judge, however, pointed out that even if the criticism was harsh, it did not go beyond what is permissible in the context of personal tragedy. The court’s decision emphasizes that freedom of speech protects such statements as long as they do not contain direct insults or false accusations.
Civil proceedings ahead
The criminal proceedings in the case of possible incitement to suicide were previously terminated as a temporary suspension. Kira Lopez’s parents are now continuing to seek justice in a civil court: hearings on their lawsuit against the school are scheduled for January 2027. This court decision may influence further consideration of the case in other instances.
Context and other high-profile decisions
In recent years, the issue of educational institutions’ responsibility and the protection of students’ rights has been increasingly discussed in Spain. Amid such conflicts, regional authorities are implementing measures to strengthen oversight of educational facilities. For example, recently, in Lanzarote, local authorities suspended the company Canal Gestión from managing the water supply due to serious violations, which also caused significant public outcry — details on the Lanzarote authorities’ decision.
