Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A 12-year-old school boy who had pieces of meat thrown at him in school for being vegan hanged himself, an inquest heard.

Louie Tom Fenton, 12, was pronounced dead after he was found hanging in his family bathroom in Waterford on January 19.

Hertfordshire Coroner's Court in Hatfield heard today (September 28) how Louie had endured bullying at Richard Hale School in Hertford because of his veganism.

In a letter that was read out to the court, his mother, Catherine Fenton, told the court about the bullying he suffered.

She wrote: "He had been bullied regularly since he arrived at Richard Hale School. He had regular appointments with the counsellor and he started self harming.

"They threw meat at him in the canteen because he was a vegan."

The court also heard that he was forced to go outside to eat because they would throw meat at him and had become a heavy smoker to cope with the stress of the bullying.

Despite his mother approaching the school several times, the coroner was told that the bullying continued.

The inquest heard that there was no evidence that Louie had intended to kill himself, and that there was no note found.

His father, Graeme Fenton, wrote to the coroner, telling him that he felt that Louie hadn't meant to kill himself.

Louie had been a member of Hertford Sea Scouts and had learnt how to tie every knot and knew all their names.

The coroner heard that it was his father's belief that he had accidentally killed himself while messing around.

No statement from Richard Hale School was read at the inquest and the only evidence given on behalf of the school were police notes from an interview with the headteacher Stephen Neate.

The police notes stated that Mr Neate had said that Louie had become a heavy smoker and hung around with older children.

Mrs Fenton said: "I'm concerned that if he was being bullied to such an extent that he wanted to hang himself whether the school has done anything to tackle it and make sure it doesn't happen again.

"I never had the feeling that Louie was so depressed that he wanted to die."

At the conclusion of the inquest the coroner for Hertfordshire, Geoffrey Sullivan, said he would write to the school to ensure their policies for dealing with bullying and self harming were up to date.

He said: "Given what you have said I shall write to the headteacher at the school to ask if policies are in place and up to date in respect of pupils who experience bullying and do self harm."

Louie had been going to go on a school skiing trip within weeks, had expressed excitement to his family and discussed who he would be sharing a room with.

In a statement his family said: "Louie was a wonderful boy, much loved by family and friends alike.

"He had wide ranging interests and was very passionate about them.

"In some ways, he had wisdom and concerns way beyond his years, and in other ways he was a mischievous, enthusiastic boy to whom the world offered the opportunity of discovery and adventure.

"Louie had a wonderful sense of humour and an infectious giggle.

"On the day he died he had appeared excited by gifts he had received in the post, he mentioned a couple of issues at school but did not appear unduly troubled.

"We feel his loss deeply, he made our lives better by being with us. He still had so much to offer."

Mr Sullivan gave an open verdict at the conclusion of the inquest, ruling that he was not convinced that Louie meant to kill himself.

Following his death his family set up a Justgiving page to raise money for causes he cared about.

If you or anyone you know is affected by issues in this article then contact the Samaritans on 116 123.