Home / Crime and Justice / Mom's Brave Fight After Son's Online Challenge Death
Mom's Brave Fight After Son's Online Challenge Death
2 Aug
Summary
- Mother campaigns for online safety after son's death.
- Son's death attributed to an online challenge gone wrong.
- Inquest into death reopened following mother's legal challenge.
Four years after her son Julian "Jools" Sweeney's death, Ellen Roome remains a driving force in advocating for online child safety. Jools' death in April 2022 was linked to an online challenge, prompting Roome to launch a significant campaign. She has successfully petitioned the High Court to reopen the inquest into his death, hoping for greater truth and a safer digital environment for children.
Roome draws motivation from a video Jools sent her during a Kilimanjaro climb, where he encouraged her to "stay strong and be brave." This message continues to inspire her daily efforts. She has become a prominent advocate, calling for a ban on social media use by children in Britain and urging legal amendments to give parents access to their deceased child's data.
Willoughby's upcoming YouTube series features an interview with Roome, where the mother expresses her belief that Jools would be proud of her work. This conversation follows the High Court's decision to quash the senior coroner's initial conclusion. Roome stated that this is a pivotal moment for uncovering the truth about Jools' death and enhancing online safety for all children. The interview is set to be released on digital platforms on August 4, 2026.
