The mother of an autistic teenager has gone public with a shocking letter she received from a neighbour.
The letter was delivered to Magenta Quinn’s home in Mount Ommaney, south-west Brisbane, after police were called at 10.30pm.
Ms Quinn posted the message on social media to raise awareness about mental illness, bullying and disabilities.
‘I am one of your neighbours and I wish to remain anonymous to avoid any conflict,’ the letter began.
The mother of an autistic teenager has gone public with a shocking letter she received from a neighbour (pictured)
‘When you moved in we heard these strange moaning and shouting coming from your garden every day and night, for which we were concerned may be illegal activities, so we contacted the police who in turn have visited your premises.
‘They informed us of your situation that a person in your family is suffering from a mental illness and that was the source of the noise.’
The neighbour said they were sympathetic, but said ‘it is a very disturbing noise that comes from your garden continuously, every day, sometimes late into the night’.
‘It is not fair on the community to have to bear this disturbance especially as it occurs daily.
‘I would kindly request that you consider your neighbours and try to limit the amount of time that is spent in the garden such that we do not have to listen to the disturbing noise daily and sometimes before 6am.
‘I am giving you the opportunity to help us live together in this community without it becoming a constant battle.
The letter was delivered to Magenta Quinn’s home in Mount Ommaney, south-west Brisbane, after police were called at 10.30pm (pictured is Ms Quinn’s response)
‘If this continues at the regular intervals it has been, I intend to make formal complaints against your address to council to help resolve this issue,’ the letter said.
Ms Quinn, a single mother, said she has only lived in the area for three months and takes care of her special needs son full-time.
‘My son is autistic. He has the mental capacity of about a five to seven-year-old. His language capacity is exceptionally limited, we might get three to five word sentences half a dozen times a day,’ she told The Courier Mail.
‘The noise they’re referring to is that he hums and occasionally yelps. It’s a calming mechanism, and without it, he would get very frustrated and aggressive so I’d prefer the humming.
‘Talking with council won’t help, he’s not a dog, it’s a person. If you’d like to take him on a holiday so I can get some rest that would be awesome.
‘Otherwise, please feel free to come and chat with me, there’s a lot you do not understand.’
Despite being stunned by the letter, Ms Quinn has been moved by messages of love and support she has received since.
‘I received an out pouring of love and compassion and am grateful for people who care,’ she said on Facebook.
Comments on her post were sympathetic to Ms Quinn, calling the letter-writer ‘cowardly’ and ‘despicable’.
‘Wow! How totally insensitive, some people are just so ignorant. Great response!’ said one person.
‘This letter from your “neighbour” is despicable! “It’s not fair on the community to have to bear this disturbance”….what the?’ said another
‘What do they expect you to do, lock him up in a soundproof cage? He is a child with autism for goodness sakes. This makes my blood boil.’
‘Whoa! Having police turn up!! At night??!! That is a very cowardly person in not wanting to have a face to face conversation with you.
‘That last sentence is just so stupid, especially after having an explanation from the police as to why. I am so sorry that you had this happen to you,’ said another friend.
Ms Quinn posted the message on social media to raise awareness about mental illness, bullying and disabilities (pictured is support from friends)