The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney, which his mother believes was linked to an online challenge, is to be reopened after the High Court quashed the original conclusion. Jools, from Gloucestershire, died in April 2022. His inquest in September 2022 lasted just 23 minutes and returned a narrative conclusion without calling any live evidence.
Mother's Legal Challenge
Ellen Roome, Jools' mother, launched a legal challenge against the senior coroner for Gloucestershire to have the conclusion quashed and the inquest reopened. At a hearing on Thursday, her lawyers presented new evidence regarding the role of social media in Jools' death, arguing that a “number of lines of inquiry” that were not pursued at the original inquest “bear directly upon TikTok’s platform and the data it holds.”
The coroner and TikTok did not oppose the bid to reopen the inquest. At the conclusion of the hearing in London, two senior judges—Lord Justice Warby and Mrs Justice Heather Williams—quashed the conclusion and ordered a new inquest to take place at a later date. Lord Justice Warby stated: “We have concluded that the application should be granted.” Ms Roome wept as the judges delivered their ruling.
Impact and Next Steps
The reopening of the inquest marks a significant step for the family, who have sought answers about Jools' death. The new inquest will examine evidence related to TikTok's platform and data, potentially shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death. The original inquest, which lasted only 23 minutes, had been criticized for its brevity and lack of live testimony.
