The father of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life after being bullied on social media by fellow pupils at her school has said someone needs to be held “accountable” for her death.
Mariano Janin said his daughter Mia was bullied “in person and online” and that police should set up a “special division” to deal with cyber bullying against children.
Mia was found dead at her family home in Harrow, northwest London, in March 2021.
Two undated letters in Mia’s handwriting were found on her bed addressed to “her loving family and friends,” which “explained that Mia decided to end her life,” an inquest heard.
Her death came a day after she asked her parents about moving to a different school.
However, he did not tell Barnet Coroner’s Court that bullying led to her death.
Mia attended the Jewish Free School in Kenton, northwest London, which acknowledged she had received hostile messages in response to a TikTok video she had posted.
Image: Mia Janin was found dead at her home. Pic: Supplied by family
However, the school added she was never diagnosed with a mental illness nor did she present signs that she was thinking of suicide.
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Speaking to Sky News after the inquest, Mr Janin said: “Iwould like to know what really happened with Mia… And of course, I would like to have some kind of accountability if possible.”
Asked who should be held accountable, he added: “I cannot say right now because I am just very tired, I didn’t sleep last night waiting for the conclusion.
“I think I need to relax a little bit and start to think about my next move, after a little bit more time.”
In a statement given to police after Mia’s death, one of her friends said: “[Schoolboys] took screenshots of girls’ faces on social media and made fun of them. They shared a video of Mia’s TikTok and made fun of her.
“They used girls’ faces on porn stars’ bodies to upset us.”
Mia’s friends also told officers that one of the girl’s TikTok videos was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at the school, where they made fun of her.
The Metropolitan Police admitted in May 2023 that it had lost significant evidence during its investigation, including a SIM card from Mia’s main phone and a second mobile handset that belonged to her.
Mr Janin said: “I will not blame the police. Maybe what we need to start to think is that we need a special division in the police to deal with this type of crime.
“She was a 14-year-old girl, not a cyber terrorist.
“And I think they should create a new department for cyber crime or cyber security oriented to young people.”
Image: Mia Janin pictured with her mother Marisa Janin. Pic: Supplied by family
Mr Janin also lost his wife, Mia’s mother Marisa Janin, only four months after his daughter’s suicide. Mrs Janin died after developing an aneurysm and contracting leukaemia.
Following Friday’s ruling, Mr Janin described the inquest as the first step in his battle “to find justice and closure for me and what happened for Mia, and then to my wife as well.”
He said: “I will carry on with this quest for justice and in the meantime we need to do something as parents, as a society, to keep our kids safe online.”
Image: Mr Janin described his daughter as a “beautiful girl and a really nice kind of person”. Pic: Supplied by family
Mr Janin said he still thinks about his daughter’s smile, and described her as “very bubbly and creative”.
He added: “She was beautiful. She was a beautiful girl and a really nice kind of person as well.”
The Jewish Free School has said it was unaware of the bullying Mia was experiencing online and that it had brought in changes following her death.
Dr David Moody, headteacher at the school, said after the ruling: “Whilst I was not in post at the time of Mia’s death, I can only promise that we will continue to do everything we can to embed all of the changes that have been put in place over the last three years.
“Mia remains a hugely missed member of our school community and our thoughts continue to be with the family.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Alternatively, letters can be mailed to: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS.
But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.
It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.
Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.
With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.
Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.
But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.
When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.
There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.
Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.
Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
However, he will continue to be known as a prince.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.
He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.
“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”
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2:49
Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?
Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.
More on Prince Andrew
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Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”
Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.
Image: Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.
“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”
Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.
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1:11
Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew
Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.
Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide
The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.
They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.
Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.
Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.
He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”
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4:05
Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News
Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.
“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.
Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.
The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.
Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.
“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”
The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”
Image: Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.
“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.
“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”
They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.
“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.