Ellen Roome’s Children: Remembering Son Jools Sweeney
Cheltenham, 16 January 2026 – Ellen Roome, a 49-year-old campaigner from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List for her services to children’s online safety. Her advocacy stems from the heartbreaking loss of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, who died in April 2022.
The Loss of Jools Sweeney
Jools Sweeney was Ellen Roome’s only child. On 13 April 2022, the teenager spent a fun day with friends in Cheltenham, including playing football and boating on a lake. He returned home alone at around 8.46pm, and his mother arrived shortly after to find him unresponsive. Despite attempts at resuscitation by paramedics and her partner, Jools could not be saved. Although the coroner could not formally rule his death as suicide, Ellen suspected it may have been linked to an online challenge, such as a blackout challenge.
Ellen described the moment she found him as surreal, initially thinking he was playing around. The grief was overwhelming, and she began searching for answers about the circumstances leading to his death. She discovered that parents have no automatic right to access their deceased child’s social media data, even for minors, which hindered her ability to understand what happened.
The Campaign for Jools’ Law
Following Jools’ death, Ellen sold her financial services business, which she had run for 18 years, to dedicate herself to campaigning. She became a leading voice for “Jools’ Law”, a proposed legal change that would compel social media companies to hand over children’s data to bereaved parents without a court order. The campaign aims to strengthen parental rights and child protection in the digital age, ensuring transparency and access to data that could identify online risks and prevent tragedies.
Ellen has met with baronesses in the House of Lords to refine the wording for an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. She has also applied to the Attorney General for a fiat to allow a new inquest, using the new Data Use and Access Act to request Jools’ social media data. An independent investigation by former officers highlighted failings in securing digital evidence, leading to the case being escalated for further review by Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Ellen emphasised that her work is not about recognition but about protecting children and supporting families. She stated she would give back the MBE if it could bring Jools back, focusing instead on preventing other parents from enduring similar pain.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Jools’ Age at Death | 14 years old |
| Date of Death | 13 April 2022 |
| Cause Suspected | Possible online challenge (e.g., blackout challenge) |
| Campaign Focus | Jools’ Law for parental access to children’s social media data |
| Honour Received | MBE in King’s New Year Honours List (announced 30 December 2025) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jools’ Law?
Jools’ Law is a proposed amendment to UK law that would require social media platforms to automatically preserve and provide access to a deceased child’s digital data to their parents, without needing a court order. It aims to help families understand online risks and prevent future tragedies.
Why could Ellen not access Jools’ data initially?
Under current laws, parents do not have automatic legal rights to access their minor child’s social media data after death. This requires court orders or cooperation from tech companies, which Ellen found inaccessible and controlled by platforms.
What progress has been made in Ellen’s case?
An independent investigation revealed serious failings in securing digital evidence. Gloucestershire Constabulary has escalated the case for further review. Ellen has also secured meetings with baronesses and applied for a new inquest.
How can people support Ellen’s campaign?
Ellen encourages raising awareness about online safety for children. She has signed a life-rights agreement with Featuristic Films for a factual drama series about her story, which will highlight the need for change.