Family of teenager found dead in his Gloucestershire home call for law to protect children

A Cheltenham family calls for new law and signs petition after the death of their son. Julian Sweeney died suddenly in 2022 with his parents Ellen Roome and Matthew Sweeney devastated.

With no idea why Julian (“Jools”) died, Ellen fears their child may have seen harmful content on social media. Residing in Charlton Kings, Ellen wants the public to help obtain signatures for a #JoolsLaw petition which will need to reach 100,000 signatures before Parliament is officially dissolved for the general election campaign.

100,000 signatures are required for a petition to be considered and debated in Parliament. An inquest in 2022 found that Julian, who was in year 10 at Balcarras School, probably did not intend, on the balance of probabilities, to end his life.

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Gloucestershire Deputy Coroner Roland Wooderson said at the time: “Julian was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where he died on April 13. Police confirmed there was no third party involvement, no suicide note was found and the family was unable to offer. no explanation.” However, a police investigation revealed that about two years ago, Julian had told a friend that he hated himself and wanted to change and that the friend had asked him if he had tried to suicide.

Mother Ellen Roome says when Julian killed himself in 2022, at the time the new coroner's powers to request access to social media were not in force.

Thanks to the petition, Ellen thinks it's too late. “Since my son's death, I have been unable to access information about what my son was watching that may have contributed to his suicide. Parents should have the right to full access to his son's social media accounts. their child, whether while they are still alive (to protect them) or if they die like in my case.”

Ellen adds: “I'm left with no answers. I don't understand why the smiling, happy boy who an hour and a half before I spoke to was perfectly fine and playing with friends all day is no longer here.”

The government changed the law so that the coroner has the right to request information from social media companies. Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham and Lord Chancellor, said in a statement: “We have changed the law to give coroners additional powers to access social media accounts in devastating cases. After speaking to Jools' mother, I wrote to the Attorney General to urge her to request a new investigation to help give the family the answers they deserve.