Schoolgirl, 14, did not kill herself because of I hate Megan Evans bullying campaign, coroner rules
A schoolgirl who was discovered dead at home did not kill herself due to cyber-bullying, a coroner has ruled.
A schoolgirl who was discovered dead at home did not kill herself due to cyber-bullying, a coroner has ruled.
Megan Evans, 14, faced online taunts such as go kill yourself and a Facebook group called I hate Megan Evans was set up, an inquest had heard.
Megans mother told the hearing in Haverfordwest in Wales she had found, after the schoolgirls death, other online pages abusing her.
But coroner Paul Bennett has now suggested that other personal factors were involved in Megans suicide rather than pinning the blame on online harassment.
He said the key issue upsetting Megan was her boyfriends alleged relationship with another girl and also said she was troubled by her fathers illness.
Megan Evans, 14, faced online taunts such as go kill yourself - but an inquest has deemed that her death was prompted by a combination of other factors
Megans mother Nicola Harteveld (pictured) had told the hearing in Haverfordwest in Wales of internet pages which had been set up online abusing her daughter
Megan was described as being her normal bubbly self on the day of the tragic incident (Pictured: Cards, flowers and balloons left at Megans grave)
Mr Bennett said at the end of the inquest in Pembrokeshire that phrases such as go kill yourself were in regular use online, and added that children and young people had different perceptions of bullying.
He said that particular phrase could be perceived in different ways, telling the court: What may be bullying to one could be banter to another.
Mr Bennett said he had studied evidence from Dyfed-Powys Police’s digital crime investigation unit which had found no evidence of targeted abuse or bullying directed at Megan.
As he recorded a verdict of suicide, he said of Megan taking her own life: The decision to do so was not influenced by bullying or, per se, by social media.
Megans mother Nicola Harteveld and friends had told the inquest how she was unhappy at Milford Haven School in Pembrokeshire because of online bullying and feeling she was being persecuted by staff there.
But Mr Bennett said: She was troubled by concerns over her fathers illness and there were arguments with other children over suggestions that her boyfriend was behaving badly.
It is, however, impossible to be certain what drove her to take the steps she did. I am equally satisfied that the steps she took were not related to bullying or a failure to prevent such bullying.
The inquest heard that a photo of Megan smoking had also been posted on social media, which resulted in fellow pupils calling her names at school.
Coroner Paul Bennett has ruled that a combination of personal factors contributed to Megan Evans (pictured) taking her own life
The hearing was told that Megan was told to kill herself and had been sent a picture message saying die on social media.
Hate groups were set up before they were reported to the school and taken down, the court was told - including one called I hate Megan Evans.
Mr Bennett did not find grounds to support the familys claims that the school had done nothing to combat bullying before her death in February 2017 and said the school had a range of safeguarding and anti-bullying policies.
He said: Pupils knew what route they could take should bullying arise. That does not mean that pupils did avail themselves of those options.
On the night Megan took her own life, her parents were out and she was at home with three of her siblings.
She did not leave a suicide note but the coroner said the fact she was in a room rarely used by her family and had barricaded the door suggested that she did not want to be interrupted or found quickly.
Megan was described as a talented artist and hockey player who had been looking forward to attending a Justin Bieber concert.
In the years following Megans death, her mother has worked to raise awareness of mental health and the dangers of social media bullying.
Megan was described as a talented artist and hockey player who had been looking forward to attending a Justin Bieber concert ahead of her death in February 2017
She has since founded Megans Starr Foundation which provides free counseling and peer support to young people in Pembrokeshire.
Following his conclusion of suicide, Mr Bennett expressed his condolences to Megans family and apologised for the delays in investigating the tragic loss.
Megans mother had told the inquest how she found more bullying groups online when logging into the schoolgirls Snapchat and Facebook accounts after her death.
Fellow pupil Chloe Boswell, now 22, also told the inquest that Megan did not want to go to the school because the teachers were horrible to her.
She explained that one teacher who was responsible for behaviour management would pick away at her for her school uniform and claimed pupils couldnt speak to teachers about any bullying issues.
Chloe told the hearing that she was aware that Megan had previously self-harmed and had trouble with other pupils in the school.
Malcolm Duthie, representing the education authority at Pembrokeshire Council, said that when friends were asked if they believed Megan was being bullied all of them said no.
He said she might have been upset by an argument with another pupil and concern for her fathers health.
Megans friend Chloe Boswell told the inquest she was aware the pupil had self-harmed and had trouble with other students at Milford Haven Comprehensive School (pictured)
Mr Duthie added it would be hard for the school to get any evidence of bullying as most of it took place on Snapchat - where messages disappear after 24 hours.
The inquest also heard that Megan was having outbursts in class in the weeks leading up to her death, although her mother was never made aware of the problem by the school.
Megan had attended a school meeting on February 7 2017 about a trip to France and appeared in good spirits, the court was told.
Later that evening, her parents left the family home in Milford Haven for a night in Cardiff with her four youngest siblings, while the four older siblings - including Megan - stayed at home.
At about 10pm her brother rang their parents after he was unable to find her in the house, before he kept searching and discovered Megan locked in an upstairs bathroom.
Despite the efforts of her family, paramedics, and hospital staff, Megan could not be saved.
A statement from her family described Megan as an intelligent, kind and vibrant teenager, adding: She had a big heart and would do anything to help anyone.
She bought love and laughter into our home and was always full of energy. Her friends adored her, and she always stood up for what she believed in.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.
