High Court Orders Fresh Inquest Into 14-Year-Old's Death in Landmark Ruling on Social Media Evidence

A mother from Gloucestershire has won a historic legal battle to reopen her son's inquest after the High Court quashed the original conclusion into the 14-year-old's death. The ruling represents the first case in England and Wales where a fresh inquest has been specifically ordered to allow proper examination of a deceased child's social media and device data. Ellen Roome's four-year campaign to uncover the circumstances surrounding Jools Sweeney's death in 2022 has resulted in new powers being available to coroners to access previously unavailable information.

The Original Inquest and Legal Challenge

Jools Sweeney was found unconscious in his bedroom in April 2022 after taking part in an online challenge that went wrong. The initial inquest into his death was concluded in September of that year in just 23 minutes, with no live evidence called and a narrative conclusion returned. However, crucial social media data from the teenager's devices was never gathered or analysed during that investigation.

Roome pursued a legal challenge with support from her lawyers, who argued that new evidence had emerged concerning the role of social media in her son's death. They highlighted a "number of lines of inquiry" that directly related to TikTok's platform and the data it holds, which had not been pursued in the original proceedings. Lord Justice Warby, sitting with Mrs Justice Heather Williams, agreed with the challenge and ordered a fresh inquest to take place.

New Legal Powers Enable Investigation

The ruling gains significance from recent legislative changes. The Online Safety Act 2023, which came into force after Jools's original inquest, now allows Ofcom to request information from social media firms, including material a child viewed or uploaded. Additionally, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 provides Roome with further means to request her son's social media content through the coroner's office.

During her public statements following the ruling, Roome expressed her determination to pursue every available avenue. "I cannot live the rest of my life without trying to look for answers as to why my son's not here," she said. She also emphasised the broader implications of the case, stating that it demonstrates social media companies must take greater responsibility for protecting children on their platforms.

Precedent for Future Cases

Neither the coroner nor TikTok opposed the bid to reopen the inquest, removing potential barriers to the fresh investigation. Roome indicated that she believes the ruling will serve as a useful precedent for other families seeking similar justice. The case has drawn attention to gaps in how child deaths involving social media are investigated and the importance of accessing digital evidence in such circumstances.