Schoolgirl, 14, 'found dead in bathroom after cyber-bullying campaign'

A schoolgirl was found dead in her bathroom after a cyber-bullying campaign including a page dedicated to bullying her was set up online, an inquest has heard. 

Teenager Megan Evans, 14, was found dead at her home after allegedly being targeted on social media.

Her mum Nicola Harteveld said Megan was told to 'kill herself' on social media - and hate groups had been made before they were reported to the school and taken down.

The hearing was told that among these was an online group called 'I hate Megan Evans'.

Heartbroken mother-of-eight Nicola found more groups after logging into Megan's Snapchat and Facebook accounts after her death.

But she said that when her friends were asked if Megan was being bullied at the time 'all of them said no'.

An inquest heard Megan was having 'outbursts' in class in the weeks leading up to her death in 2017 - but Nicola was never made aware of the problem by the school.

The school called her almost daily about Megan's incorrect uniform, but she was never informed about bad behaviour in school, she told the inquest.

She said it was 'completely out of character' for Megan, who was 'such a studious and well-behaved girl.'

'They knew her behaviour was out of character, it was getting worse, she was verbally abusive to staff,' said Nicola.

'They must have known that something was wrong.'

The inquest heard that Megan had attended a school meeting on February 7, 2017, about a trip to France and appeared in good spirits.

Later that evening, her parents left the family home in Milford Haven for a night in Cardiff with her four youngest siblings, leaving the four older children - including Megan - at home.

A around 10pm her brother rang their parents after he was unable to find her in the house. He kept searching and found Megan locked in an upstairs bathroom.

Despite the efforts of her family, paramedics, and hospital staff, Megan could not be saved.

Nicola told police she had 'no idea why Megan would do this.'

A statement from her family described Megan as an intelligent, kind, and vibrant teenager.

'She had a big heart and would do anything to help anyone,' the family statement read.

'She brought 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.'

Malcolm Duthie, representing the education authority at Pembrokeshire Council, said when friends were asked if they believed Megan was being bullied 'all of them said no.'

He said she may have been upset by an argument with another pupil and concern for her father's health.

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.

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 Megan's tragic death, Nicola has worked to raise awareness of mental health and the dangers of social media bullying.

She has since founded Megan's Starr Foundation which provides free counseling and peer support to young people in Pembrokeshire.

The inquest in Haverfordwest continues.