Rachael Sweeney

Rachael Sweeney is the wife of Frank Sweeney, and the mother of Liam Sweeney, Demi-Leigh Sweeney & Lulabelle-Trixie Sweeney. She made her debut in May 2020. She left in April 2021. She returned for two episodes in June 2021. In 2022, it was revealed that the character was dead.

## Storylines

Rachael first appears in May 2020, along with her husband Frank, and her children Liam, Demi-Leigh & Lulabelle Trixie. They turn up in their van playing loud music while the neighbours watch in horror. Rachael instantly clash with Alex Mason, who greets her, but Rachael tells her to shove off. Then George Murphy complains because their van is parked over his drive. Alex loses it the following day when they play loud music. She goes round and complains. Frank goes to turn the music down, but Rachael pushes her down the drive, causing Alex to punch her in retaliation. Alex phones Jade, who comes round. The family make a mockery of Jade for being transgender, and push her over. The family later arrive at the Tumpetty, but Jade bars them. Liam and Demi-Leigh throw stones through the glass, breaking it. They later shove a burning newspaper through the letterbox. However, a lone shark named Big Rick turns up and threatens them, wanting money. This goes on for a few weeks, until the family ask their neighbours (Jade, Wallace, Alex, George & Holly) for help. They hide in the house, and when Big Rick starts making threats, they jump on him and phone the police. The Sweeney family are grateful, and tell them that they moved because of Big Rick, and that they didn't want to trust anybody in case they were friends of his. The family are properly welcomed into Hole Street. In October 2020, a man named Mike Heannau begins threatening the Sweeney family]]. In December 2020, Mike shoots Liam, killing him. In March 2021, Frank and Rachael are devastated when Demi-Leigh dies of a head injury, just three months after Liam. Emma Pastry confesses to killing her, and she is arrested. Frank, Rachael and Lulabelle-Trixie move away. In June 2021, Emma phones Rachael in prison, wanting to see her. A week later, Emma is told she has a visitor, who turns out to be Rachael. Rachael doesn't want to see Emma, and initially refuses to listen, however Emma tells her about Demi-Leigh's cyberbullying, and says to look for her phone in No.4's garden. Rachael walks out, but decides to visit No.4, and asks Jack Tomlinson if she can look in their garden for something. She finds Demi-Leigh's phone, which is damaged, however puts the SIM card in another phone, and sees Demi-Leigh's abusive messages to Emma and Jasmine. A week later, PC Natasha White tells Emma that Rachael has decided to drop all charges and that Emma is free to go. Rachael tells her that although she can't forgive her for her daughter's death, she understands the whole situation, and believes that Emma has suffered enough. In August 2022, Big Rick tells Rebecca Evans that Frank and Rachael were dead.

## Background Info

In December 2019, NJE announced that a "rough family" would be joining in Spring 2020. In March 2020, the family was announced as The Sweeney Family, who would move into No.4 Hole Street and instantly clash with the neighbours. This consisted of father Frank (Steve Huison), mother Rachael (Rachel Leskovac), and children Liam (Louis Tomlinson), Demi Leigh (Aimee Kelly), & Lulabelle-Trixie. Leskovac had previously played a character named Natasha Wood between 2011-13. They will debut in May 2020. In December 2020, it was announced that the Sweeney family would be departing in spring 2021. She left in April 2021. However, Rachael made an unannounced guest return in June 2021, when Emma Pastry (Lucy Dixon) phoned her. In August 2022, it was revealed that the character was dead.