Skip navigation

Gloucestershire Business News

Parents call for law to protect children

Cheltenham parents are calling for a new law, following the death of their son.

Julian 'Jools' Sweeney from Cheltenham, passed away suddenly in 2022. His parents, Ellen Roome and Matthew Sweeney, don't know why he died.

Ellen said: "We have no idea why, but we fear that he viewed harmful content on social media that helped lead him down such a tragic road."

Now they want the public's help to get 100,000 signatures for #JoolsLaw, so it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Ellen continued: "As a parent, we should have the right to view his social media. We don't. We think this is wrong.

"We should be able to see what he was watching and what/ who could have put ideas into his head to end his life. All parents should have this right, whether their children are alive or dead.

"The tech companies don't seem to want to do anything to stop harmful and violent content from reaching our kids.

"So, the government must empower parents to protect them by giving us the right to see what they see.

"Please sign this petition to change the law to protect all living children and, in my case, to help me find answers as to why my precious child is dead."

An inquest in 2022 found that Jools, who was in year 10 at Balcarras School, probably didn't intend to take his own life.

You can sign the petition here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/661407 

Related Articles

Store to close at Gloucester Quays Image

Store to close at Gloucester Quays

Gloucester Rugby's store at Gloucester Quays is to close down this weekend.

New financial boss at Forest poultry firm Image

New financial boss at Forest poultry firm

Internal appointment reflects merit, says Avara.

Funding to support growth and investment in Gloucester Image

Funding to support growth and investment in Gloucester

City 'masterplan' among the projects set to receive a share of around £500,000.

BREAKING: Mother of all Sundays on the way for M4 and rail users Image

BREAKING: Mother of all Sundays on the way for M4 and rail users

Sunday services on track for ‘significant’ disruption, says GWR, as M4 also shuts.

Copyright 2025 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.