On January 19, Louie Tom Fenton was found dead in Hertford, England by his family in their home, having hanged himself after being bullied in school for his vegan lifestyle.
The boy was only 12 years old, and despite his mother continuously approaching Richard Hale School regarding the issue, the bullying only worsened until Louie would eventually take his own life.
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“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,” his mother, Catherine Fenton, wrote Hertfordshire’s Coroner’s Court.
The court also heard that Louie began a heavy smoking habit and ate his meals outside at school in order to avoid being bullied.
Louie’s father, Graeme, told the court that he was convinced Louie did not intend to take his own life, but that he was “messing around.”
Hertfordshire coroner Geoffrey Sullivan stated at the inquest that there was no evidence proving he intentionally killed himself, leaving open the possibility of self harm that turned deadly.
“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,” Sullivan said.
Louie was a wonderful boy, much loved by family and friends alike,” wrote his family in a statement. “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 was just a child, bullied for his compassionate and loving nature. He should not have had to suffer for caring about animals and the environment.
“We will now review our procedures, ensuring that all agencies who worked with Louie and his family, both inside and outside the school, learn any lessons from this tragic case,” said headteacher of Richard Hale School Stephen Neate.
In honor of their son, Louie’s parents launched a JustGiving fundraising page for issues he cared deeply about. The page has raised over $3,000.
The school plans to crack down on bullying, and hopefully tragedies like this will be prevented as students are further educated and protected from harm.
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I began my career as a vegetarian as a young child. I grew up feeling somewhat separate, and thgoughout my life, asked restaurant servers to arrange for meatless meals for me. I am now 72, and very much shocked that school officials knew of this vicious bullying and did not take serious action. I am a psychotherapist and I know that children in a toxic envrionment feel hopeless. I am so sorry that this compassionate youngster suffered and ultimately died, and urge all school officials everywhere to learn from this tragedy!.
What a very sad statement on a child’s life being made miserable by other children because he wouldn’t eat meat! It’s a sad thing when bullies attack because they have small minds! The parents on both sides have much to learn from this! I have never eaten meat nor dairy or eggs! Including when I was a baby I was told I would start screaming! I have been vegan from day 1 and I never paid attention to ignorant comments made by idiots!
WE ALL MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN FROM BULLYING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR BULLYING ANYONE. I SHOULD KNOW AS I WAS BULLIED FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL.
Yes I totally agree now the school is going to address bulling the school should of did that long time ago a little to late now yes they should go to that 12 year old boys funeral and then be charged it’s not right that boy did not deserve this and the parents should took him out of that school it’s the schools fault not the parents the parents can only do so much the school see the students every single day how could the school not see the boy was going through stuff it’s not right to blame the parents but the should of took him out of the school maybe the parents did not know they were bulling there son students are not going to say they are being bullied because to them they do t want to be called a snitch for saying something the students in the school should not be afraid to say they are being bullied if the schools all the school would indorse bullying will not be tolerated what so ever the more the school stoops it the less the students will get bullied please if you agree with me please leave a comment this is important thank you
Tragic!! “Louie was just a child, bullied for his compassionate and loving nature.”
We live in a violent and destructive world, and the offenders seldom are punished for their heinous crimes. A humanoid cleanse is imperative!
Kids can be cruel. They don’t care and maybe happy for what happened. Stress uses up B vitamins and Zn which may hurt a person if they are low in these. Gluten may hurt intestines so less minerals/nutrients absorb. Celiac people maybe vegetarian. No meat may lower certain nutrients that may help. I don’t eat meat and don’t like abuse. Fat in meat clogs my blood vessels. Home school or Christian school may help compared to public school.
Oh, NOW the school is going to address bullying. How very kind! The school administrators, teachers and students should be forced to go to the child’s funeral and then, face charges. As for the parents,(especially that father) WHY didn’t they pull that poor boy out of that hell-hole while there was still time? “Messing around,” you pitiful excuse for a father?
wow…just heart-wrenching, and what a tragic senseless loss; imagine how much this brave young man could have contributed to the world with his wisdom.
Will this bullying EVER END!!! This is so SAD…These kids need to be punished as Adults!! Many Prayers for the family!! My heart is broken over this..
So sad. Many tears for this loving, caring young man. Louie was special. I would hope there is severe punishment for the bullies who caused his death. Be free and at peace Louie. We love what you stood for.
God damn little bully bastards. May their life be an eternal hell on earth.
poor boy, this is unacceptable, another gentle soul went away!
RIP son! You are with God now, and will never be bullied again. This rips my heart out to know that children can be so insensitive towards another little child. It is their parents who should be blamed for this cruel behavior!
So heartbreaking!!! Prayers with the family.
God, please bless his soul with the best of blessings.
God bless his soul.
This little boy had already risen above the mundane. He knew what was right and what was wrong. Like all angels, he was too good for this earth and the human scum who just don’t care about the pain and suffering of others will have to account one day for the evil they inflict on others of all species. Rest in Peace little angel.
A “senior” vegan who wishes I had your pure heart when I was your age.
Poor sweet boy!!!!!!…so sad!!!!!!!
This is so sad to hear my opinion is the school needs to find the students or student that bullied rhis 12 year old amazing young boy they need to be charged for him killing himself it’s because of them bullying him is the reason for his death it’s not right to let these students go bully other students if they bullied this boy what makes you think they won’t bully other students as well the students need to be suspended from school and thete should be an investigation on this we need to do the right thing to honar this 12 year old that commited suiside poor boy this is so heartbreaking to me he did not deserve this thank you if you agree please let do what we can to help and honar this 12 year old and let’s not let this happen to anymore students thank you
This is beyond tragic and those involved in this child’s death need to be held responsible. Why does it take this lost of life for the school officials to say they’re going to do something about it.
God Bless this beautifull boy, not deserved an end like this. look after your children.
Why on earth did his parents leave him there? As a parent of a vhild wjo was horri ly bullied….GET THEM OUT!!! RIP LOUIE.
I think the school meeds a new headmaster!
The article says Louie was getting counsiling, which is a good thing, but what about the sick little buggers that were bullying him… they need psychiatric help so they dont find another victim. They also need to do time for manslaughter!!!
RIP Louie. and may your mum and pop somehow find peace!
I hope they found these animals and reprimand
Them
I respect and love Louie for caring sooooooo much about our animals. As do I and my friends!!! Poor family having to deal with such a tragic loss!!! Louie, Please have Jesus give you a hug for such a person as you were in our midst. I truly wish you would have stayed. You ARE the one we needed more of and most of all. I love you dearly
Very sad that nobody (?) could find a way to solve this issue when he is a bullied victime — where are the adults looking for the bullies? Children needs to know that “bullies are nothing in society so victims need not be subjected to them” — adults are the ones who should notice these incidents and punish the bulllies and do you ever hear of that happening? What’s wrong with this picture?
This devastated me and broke my heart. TWELVE YEAR OLD KIDS ARE COGNIZANT OF THE CRIMES THEY COMMIT. THESE BOYS OR GIRLS SHOULD BE TRIED AS ADULTS FOR FIRST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER. This should not be overlooked as that cliche’ phrase “…children can be so cruel..” NICE TRY AND I DONT THINK SO! THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR LOUIE’S PARENTS TO “FORGIVE” THIS EVIL DIABOLICAL BULLYING. THAT CHEAPENS LOUIE’S LIFE. Those kids ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOUIE’S DEATH. They are also guilty of ASSAULT by throwing meat at him. Sickening BRATS- PROSECUTE THEM!!!
i don’t agree that forgiveness cheapens louie’s life, BUT THE BULLIES SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW!
i was a teacher myself and see that bullying has gotten worse! this is so shocking and so sad. what a lovely boy who really does seem to have been mature for his yrs. i send love and support to his family. i am from calif. where bullying was bad enough at times, but imho it is much worse in the uk, which i also feel has screwed up laws and policies amd misguided attempts to be everything to everyone but not succeeding, allowing for extremists views to fester, like the bullies here. the uk needs to stop worrying about stepping on someone’s toes, to stop being milque toasts w no backbone, refusing to take common sense positions in an attempt to be p.c. (as in letting v young girls to wear a headscarf to school when it is not obligatory at all in islam and in any case is never worn until after puberty); the staff shd also be allowed to say ‘girls and boys’ instead of just ‘pupils’ or to say merry christmas etc. i feel the uk is a misguided breeding ground for extreme behaviors which authorities allow because they don’t want to be seen as craching down on ANY group – whether vegans or omnivores or muslims or girls or gays or even allowing pre pubescent kids to try out being the other sex, way too soon for them to be mature enough to become trans all schools, wherever they are, need to set firm limits on any form of bullying w/o worrying they are stepping on someone’s ‘rights’. bullies have no rights and shd be firmly dealt with! families need to participate fully in safeguarding their kids. and everyone needs to use common sense and clamp down on abusive behavior of any type that threatens the values of a cohesive society.
again, i send lots of love to the family of this special boy.
Thank you for saying tbe truth. We are far too soft on everything in UK and if we say something we are bigots or racists. Thank you RIP LOUIE
thanks for the support margaret. i wish you cd spread my word across the uk! my family emigrated to the usa from england and germany when we were still a colony. i have love for the uk, but not as it is now. it is horrific, warped and heading for disaster. people need to speak up! it is so sad to see the kingdom as it is now. there is a lot of bullying there, and then pc policies prevent redress. the education system is a shambles, parenting is a shambles, no one takes authority . sadly, everything revolves around booze. even on the news, the anchors make comments like ‘what a lovely day – perfect for a pint or two in the garden!’ or ‘celebrate, bring out the champagne!’ ad nauseum. no one can imagine not drinking. packets of junk food actually need to say ‘for sharing’ because otherwise people wd think it is a single portion – not that they are stopped by that. sorry to say, bad as some english grammar can be in the usa, in england it seems only the queen knows how to speak properly. – none of this ‘myself’ rubbish when one shd say ‘me’, a word that seems to strike terror in the hearts of people there. they are afraid of making a choice between ‘i’ and ‘me’ so just say myself. can you imagine the queen saying ‘as for philip and myself’? or else people incorrectly say ‘i’ as it sounds more posh to them. no one can conjugate the verb ‘to lie’, saying go lay down, or i’m laying down, instead of lie. then there is the syllabus in the schools; kids no longer read the classics, even relatively ‘easy’ ones like pride and prejudice, let alone chaucer. but all of these things inform society and our common bonds! let people watch rubbish tv and read comic books on their own tisme, but in the schools insist on some standards! the uk is reaping the havoc caused by having no standards or common ground. and frankly, speaking well, being well groomed, knowing how to mix in different circles, is important for a cohesive society. stand your ground, or rather, retake it. use apostrophes! look at any useful work as being good for the soul, rather than having tons of illegitimate babies and living on the dole, generation after generation. if anyone thinks these things don’t contribute to things like the bullying to death of this precious boy should think again! as with a horse, a brit can be placed accurately in his own social class by looking at his teeth, or lack thereof. same w speech, same w looks, same w grooming. and no one makes an effort to better himself or herself; people expect others to accept them as they are, even uneducated, dirty, workshy, rude, drunk, foul mouthed, without ambition or prospects, just bitterness towards others. it is so very sad.
He is with God and the angels now. He is at peace now. God rest his beautiful soul. I hope those bullies are justly punished for heinous and inexcusable behavior. There needs to be tougher parenting and the school needs to get serious about tackling the bully problem. No more pussyfooting around. Take action
Poor lovely boy!!!!! ???? ???? ????
The parents of the children who bullied this precious boy are to blame. If they had been taught to be tolerant of all people, regardless of their lifestyle, color, creed, sexual orientation, etc., Louie would still be alive. Wake up parents!! RIP, sweet Louie, and thank you for caring enough about the truly important things in life. Your parents did a great job!
So now nobody is allowed an opinion, or a view, this boy didn’t eat any meat,fish or dairy. His choice was condemned by ignorant children & probably very very bad parenting. My heart goes out to this boys family & true, understanding friends. God bless his soul.
How awful. My heart breaks for the family. The school should have done more.
RIP sweetheart. In your short life you showed more compassion in your little finger than the bullies. God bless you.
Firstly, my sincerest sympathy goes out Louie’s parents and other family members. Whenever I have learned of tragedies such as Louie’s, the head teacher always says we take bullying very seriously or is what they are really saying is. I don’t give a damn. The perpetrators of this abhorrent behaviour and all of those responsible should not go unpunished.
This is a tragic story..I hate anything to do with abuse, and being bullied is abuse. However the article is confusing about the self harming part and the Father’s statement. Also missing is what will happen to the kids who bullied him as far as punishment? Nothing as usual? There’s not one word mentioned. My heart breaks for the family. I hope all involved are held accountable. It sounds like the Mom tried very hard to talk with school officials. Now they plan to *crack down on bullying*. A little late..
How sad that these children were so mean. Very sad too that no child took a stand against their despicable actions. And sad too that the school didn’t protect him better. Bullying is horrible and with all we know about it, I am horrified that it continues.
I am so sad that Louie had to endure the nastiness from these cruel kids. My heart goes out to Louie’s family and friends.
This is heartbreaking and beyond horrific. The fully cognizant children that pelted meat at Louie should be charged as adults with manslaughter and sentenced to confinement! Enough is enough regarding bullying and cruelty to animals. These cruel children could very well demonstrate serial “killing and/or perform other heinous atrocities in the future. Animal abuse and a lack of enforced respect demands severe consequences. PUT THESE KIDS IN JAIL!!!!
You are nothing less than a fool. Kids of that age do not understand the meaning of life. Parents are there to teach them, blame the parents not the children…where the hell do you come from?
You are a fool.
You are the deranged stupid fool!!! Those children have never been taught to respect other living beings. They would also be around TWELVE YEARS OLD, meaning old enough to be taught kindness!!! Your child would probably be one of those little devils to throw meat at a vegan person!!!
right on the mark! my motto? KINDNESS COUNTS! kids that age have sex, get pregnant, and these days are VERY savvy! perhaps YOU can’t understand, but we adults DO.. how old are you, btw?? under 12??
Ray, according to your heartless, pseudo-defense of these monstrous preteens, I analyze that you must have been (or are still) a bully. From your name calling habit, you prove my point. You are basically saying children of twelve, or younger, have no cognitive processing/disciplinary skills…BULLS–T! From the age of five, until sixteen, I was bullied because of my differences(mostly learning disabilities, and, my love for science & nature), yet, I knew since my single digits, that ridiculing/assaulting others was wrong.
Sure enough, parents need to teach their children right from wrong. However, unless a child is severely mentally retarded, or biochemically emotionally disturbed, children will know the difference between a harmful, vicious act and a selfless act of kindness.
yes, YOU are the fool. that is why the law allows SOME older childres to be charged as adults. THEY make that determination as experts and with experts – not YOU!
i am a fully trained teacher and know more about it than you, plus i went to law school.
Wrong;children understand what they are doing from an early age I did.????
This is truly disgusting and so very very sad! I really don’t know what is wrong with children today- some of them are so cruel. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and I pray that Louie has finally found the peace he so very much deserved!!