The mother of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney from Gloucestershire has expressed hope that the High Court’s decision to order a new inquest into her son’s death will be a “turning point” in creating a safer online environment for children.
Jools died in April 2022, and the original inquest lasted just 23 minutes, concluding without hearing live evidence. Since then, Ms. Roome has raised serious concerns that Jools’ death resulted from a dangerous online challenge and has taken legal action against the Gloucestershire senior coroner.
During a hearing in London, lawyers representing Ms. Roome revealed new evidence highlighting social media’s potential role in Jools’ death and pointed to multiple investigative avenues that had been overlooked. In response, two senior judges quashed the initial narrative conclusion and mandated the inquest to be reopened.
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“This ruling means the legal system has finally acknowledged that important questions need answers,” said Ms. Roome. “Every grieving family deserves a thorough investigation into all aspects of a child’s life, including their digital activity.”
She added, “We hope this marks a turning point, not only for uncovering the truth about Jools but also in safeguarding children online. Social media companies must take every possible action to prevent these tragedies. No parent should have to bury a child because harmful content was allowed to reach them.”
The ruling grants the coroner new legal powers to examine Jools’ digital footprint, something unavailable at the time of his death. Lord Justice Warby and Mrs Justice Heather Williams described a new inquest as “desirable in the interests of justice,” recognizing numerous unexplored lines of inquiry and emphasizing that the original conclusion may change after further investigation.
Ms. Roome’s legal team highlighted substantial new evidence, particularly regarding TikTok’s role, as well as other social media elements such as contact from a fraudulent Instagram account linked to an African crime gang and potential “sextortion” attempts found on Jools’ phone.
Representatives from the coroner’s office and TikTok did not oppose reopening the inquest, with TikTok’s lawyer acknowledging the force behind the request.
Ms. Roome is among five UK parents suing TikTok in the United States following the deaths of their children and advocates for changes in the law to compel social media platforms to provide bereaved families access to their children’s data.
On the same day as Thursday’s ruling, Ofcom announced an investigation into TikTok’s methods of verifying users’ ages and its ability to protect children from harmful content. Ms. Roome welcomed the move, stating it underscored that platforms are still failing to adequately protect young users.
Gary Miller, a partner at Mischon de Reya representing Ms. Roome, criticized current investigative processes as inadequate for today’s digital reality, leaving parents without essential answers. He called for updated, harmonized protocols across all agencies to ensure that vital social media data is preserved and accessible to coroners.
Describing the ruling as “stunning,” Miller encouraged others to demand transparency and accountability: “Don’t accept no. If you’re unhappy with how an inquest or investigation was handled, speak up and make your voice heard.”