Ellen Sweeney, a mother of twelve, remains a fugitive as West Midlands Police persist in their search for her following a violent altercation in Birmingham’s Gay Village in July 2023. The incident, widely described as one of the worst fights ever witnessed in the city center, involved multiple family members and was caught on clear CCTV footage.
Sweeney, alongside her husband Thomas Sweeney senior and teenage son Thomas Sweeney junior, initially appeared at Birmingham Crown Court, where all three pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Prior to sentencing, their lawyers appealed for leniency and requested they remain on bail, citing plans for Thomas junior’s wedding. However, the family failed to appear for sentencing in August 2024, prompting the court to issue immediate imprisonment orders in their absence.
Suspicions arose that the family fled to Ireland, but their exact whereabouts remained unknown for nearly a year. Judge Dean Kershaw publicly demanded updates on their location, emphasizing the public’s right to be informed. Authorities responded, revealing multiple known addresses and efforts to secure European arrest warrants.
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Breakthroughs emerged in January when Thomas junior, now 19, was apprehended by Cheshire Police on the M6 motorway, and shortly after, Thomas senior, 44, surrendered voluntarily. Both received additional prison time for bail breaches related to their flight. However, Ellen Sweeney, now 41, remains at large.
West Midlands Police issued a statement confirming the warrant for Ellen’s arrest on failure to appear charges following her violent disorder conviction. The public is urged to report any information about her location to police on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The violent episode on July 15, 2023, involved at least seven relatives. Ellen initially appeared to be defending a man assaulted by her husband and son but soon became an active participant, engaging in physical and verbal attacks. CCTV footage captured her delivering multiple punches and allegedly using abusive language.
Following the incident, the family relocated from Kitts Green Road, Stechford, to a property in Croydon, London. Ellen was last known to check in at Lavender Hill Police Station on August 13, 2024. Despite contact from solicitors stating the family was in Scotland, phone records placed Ellen’s device in the Republic of Ireland.
The court condemned the family’s disappearance, with Judge Kershaw describing them as “cowards” for evading justice. Thomas junior’s recent re-sentencing added two months to his two-year, four-month sentence. Thomas senior also received an additional three months to his two-year, ten-month term after outbursts in court and rejected claims of fleeing for safety.
Ellen Sweeney currently faces a prison sentence of one year and eleven months, which she has yet to begin serving. Police continue to seek her whereabouts urgently.