A mother who lost her identical twin sons just three years apart has shared her hope that they are together once again.
Mum-of-three Sue Haworth was devastated when her son Harry, 22, took his own life after he suffered from depression. Just three years later, his twin Jack, 25, a trainee barrister, was killed in an unprovoked attack. Jack's killers were last month sentenced to eight years and six years four mouths jail respectively. Sue bravely shared a heart-breaking photo of her last cuddle with jack before his life support was withdrawn.
The photo was taken to raise awareness of the devastation caused by the attack. Mum of three Sue says: “As little boys, the twins were inseparable they had an amazing bond and they were so beautiful. It was exhausting but I felt incredibly lucky. As teenagers, they drifted apart which was sad. I always hoped they would find that bond again but they were not given that chance.
Jack died after he was targeted in an unprovoked attack (FOCUS FEATURES)“It broke Jack’s heart to lose his brother but we never for a moment imagined he would be taken from us too, so brutally and so senselessly. Please think Jack and walk away from confrontation. I hope people will be kinder to each other in his memory. I have scattered some of their ashes together, in their favourite places, and we have a bench with their names on it. My only comfort now is that they are together, and they are best pals once more.”
Harry and Jack were born in August 1996 and, after her relationship broke down, Sue raised them with help from her daughter Leanne, then 14, and later with her husband, Phil. She said: "They were such lovely little boys, everyone commented because they looked exactly the same.
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Sue lost Jack and Harry just three years apart (FOCUS FEATURES)"I tried to dress them differently and buy different toys but they didn’t want that. They wanted to be identical in every way. They were best friends as well as twin brothers.”
The boys were different in character, Harry, the oldest by 10 minutes, was more direct and confident and protective of Jack. He had a photographic memory and found school easy. Jack needed to work much harder at studying and was more thoughtful. Both boys were scouts and had a love water sports and outdoor activities.
Jack and Harry started to drift apart during their high school years (FOCUS FEATURES)“They were both the type of lads to help others. Jack stopped one evening on his way to a concert, all dressed up, to help a little boy fix his bike," Sue said. "They volunteered with the scouts and they were members of a water sports group which offered activities to younger kids." Unfortunately, in high school the twins started to drift apart.
Harry didn’t work hard and the teachers were always telling him he should be more like Jack," she added. "It caused resentment between them. "They bickered a lot. Harry was bigger physically, but Jack was good with words. “It made me sad that they weren’t close, but I always hoped they’d find that bond again.”
After school, Harry trained as a chef and Jack studied law at university. Sue says: “I was aware Harry suffered with depression and I’d asked him to see a doctor but he refused. He moved away, to work, and had some problems with his girlfriend. But I didn’t realise how serious it was at all. I spoke with him on the day he died and he was in great spirits. I sent him money to buy himself a microwave for his new flat and there was a bit extra for a haircut too.”
Jack and Harry were two completely different characters (FOCUS FEATURES)The following morning, Harry was found hanging. Sue says: “The police called me and I just couldn’t take it in. Jack and I went to identify him. We were shell-shocked. We scattered some of Harry’s ashes at our favourite beach in Abersoch, where we’d enjoyed so many lovely family holidays.
“Jack really struggled with Harry’s death. He blamed himself that they weren’t as close as they should have been, but nobody could have predicted it. He was a wonderful support to me in the months afterwards, he was my saviour. He really kept me going. He was identical to Harry and the likeness was a comfort to me, though of course it was heartbreaking too."
After graduating, Jack began training as a barrister. He and his girlfriend, Kaitlyn, were saving for their first home and planning to get married. Sue began to hope the family might at last be turning a corner to find happiness once more.
In August 2022, the family met for their weekly quiz at their local pub before Jack went out with friends. He came across Jake Parkinson, 22, and Jak Fairclough, 29, who were spoiling for a fight and had been involved in a number of aggressive and homophobic incidents before they encountered Jack in Preston city centre.
Both men punched him in the stomach and face in an unprovoked attack and he fell, suffering catastrophic brain injuries. Sue was in Malawi building a school for an orphanage with a scouting charity and had to hear the news from her husband. Knowing her son was on life support, she then made a two-day journey home, taking three planes. Sue says: “They were trying to keep him alive until I got home. The journey was horrific. I sobbed all the way.”
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Sue said she hopes Jack and Harry are together with each other in a different place (FOCUS FEATURES)She was able to say her goodbyes to her son when she landed in the UK, and his organs later saved the lives of four people. She says: “We held the funeral in the same crematorium and afterwards we scattered some of Jack’s ashes at the same beach. My grief was repeated all over again.
“We had a memorial bench installed, overlooking the pond where they used to swim and canoe, and it bears both of their names.”
In March 2024, Jack’s attackers were jailed for manslaughter. Preston Crown Court was told they had been causing trouble all night and were behind a string of aggressive and homophobic attacks.
They came across Jack and launched an unprovoked assault. After he fell to the ground, they ran away, shouting: ‘Who wants some.’ Jake Parkinson, 22, had denied manslaughter but was found guilty. He was sentenced to eight years behind bars.
His friend Jak Fairclough, 29, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to six years and four months. Sue says: “Jack’s death was completely senseless. I would urge everyone to please think twice before you lash out. Think Jack and walk away.”
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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