Why I Am Seeking the Attorney General’s Permission for a New Inquest into Jools’ Death
- Ellen Roome
- Feb 10
- 2 min read
Today, I am sharing a letter sent from Baroness Kidron to Lord Hermer KC, the Attorney General, seeking his permission (a fiat) to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into the death of my son, Jools.
I am asking for a new inquest because the original inquest into Jools’ death lasted just 23 minutes. No witnesses were called. No meaningful evidence was gathered. Crucially, Jools’ online activity was not examined properly.
Since that inquest, serious new information has emerged.
Gloucestershire Police have now agreed to re-investigate Jools’ death, following the identification of significant investigative failings by an independent former senior investigating officer and now private Dectective Mick Randall and safeguarding expert Mark Bramah, and the discovery of new forensic evidence from Jools’ devices. The police’s acknowledgement that their original investigation was inadequate inevitably raises serious questions about the adequacy of the inquest that followed.
There has also been an important change in the law. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, coroners now have powers to request relevant data from social media companies via Ofcom. That data was not available to the coroner at the time of Jools’ inquest, despite written confirmation from platforms that it was preserved. A new inquest would, for the first time, be able to consider this evidence properly.
This is not just about my family. A full and lawful inquest could identify lessons that help prevent future child deaths and improve how the system responds when a child dies in circumstances involving online harm.
I am deeply grateful to the many peers, MPs, experts, and organisations who have signed this letter in support. Thank you in particular to Paul Wright of Alliance 4 Children for organising many of the signatures and helping bring so many voices together.
Their backing reflects a shared belief that the truth matters, and that families are entitled to answers when a child dies.
For Jools. And for other children who deserve better protection.
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