On 16 April 2016, Pat Cronin, Whitefriars College graduate from the Class of 2014, was killed by a single Coward Punch as he went to assist a mate who was being attacked. Despite not being knocked-out, the force of that Coward Punch was enough to facture Pat’s skull, causing an inoperable bleed on his brain. Two days later, Pat’s parents Matt, and Robyn Cronin, made the agonising decision to turn-off his life support system. The Cronin family in partnership with members of the broader community, established the Pat Cronin Foundation in 2016 to prevent Coward Punch attacks and honour Pat.

One of the key goals of the Pat Cronin Foundation is to educate young people as a way of preventing the tragedies of violence entering their lives as it did the Cronin’s. Our Year 10s were blessed to have Aidan from the Pat Cronin Foundation present to the boys as part of the Wellbeing Program. He spoke to the boys about the tragic nature of Pat’s unfortunate passing and how violence took Pat, from his family and friends at such a young age with the world at his feet. The presentation challenged the boys to think about violence, what it looks like, its causes and most importantly, how it can be prevented.

Mr Mick Lafferty

Deputy Principal – Students