Latest news with #BondTurner
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Drivers impacted by Citroen & DS airbag recall could be owed compensation & hire vehicles – everything you need to know
MOTORISTS who were affected by Citroen and DS's airbag recall could be owed compensation. The affected drivers could also be eligible for complementary hire cars while the issue is being addressed. 1 The recall was issued on June 20 and hit some 120,000 owners of DS3 and C3 models across the country. Motorists were told their car's airbags were found to be faulty. Legal experts comment The directer of law firm Bond Turner Rachael Wong says that Citroen failed to act reasonably despite "knowing of issues with the now defunct airbag manufacturer Takata for years". She added: "A vehicle is an essential tool to many in their daily home and/or working life. "The practical reality is that; without a vehicle people cannot continue their daily lives as normal or at the very least, are caused intolerable inconvenience. "Citroen and Stellantis have known about the problems around these airbags for many of years – and knew or ought to have known that they would have to recall these vehicles and replace the airbags. "They have failed to plan for this eventuality and therefore drivers have now been left without a vehicle, and not knowing when they might be able to drive them again. "At the very least the manufacturers involved need to compensate owners for the inconvenience and out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of being restricted from using their cars. "We have been approached by drivers who have been told their insurance is no longer valid to drive their vehicles – and they could even be unable to drive the car to their dealership to get a repair. "Or, alternatively, are being charged by the dealer to collect the car. "Others have said they have been told by the garage that there is shortage of the replacement airbags and so garages are not able to offer a reasonable timeframe for the recall to be dealt with. "It is simply unacceptable that the manufacturers of vehicles that contain these airbags have known about these problems for a number of years, but have failed to replace them or arrange non-urgent recalls in the UK before now.' Spokesperson for Citroen says... Meawhile, a spokesperson for Citroen supplier Stellantis said: "The company's focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. "Working hand in hand with our Citroen retailer network we are working to maximise the number of vehicles we can repair every day. "To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing on introducing additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs."
ITV News
08-07-2025
- ITV News
Southport Inquiry will be 'real engine for change' as it promises not to 'paper over cracks'
The Southport Inquiry will act as a "real engine for change" and will "not turn into an exercise of papering over the cracks", the chair has promised as he formally opened the hearing. The probe into 'one of the most horrific crimes in the country's history' has been established to "thoroughly investigate" the circumstances around the deaths of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024. It will look at whether the attack, which killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, could or should have been prevented, given what was known about the perpetrator - who is not being named "for the benefit of the victims and their families". Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford, a former vice-president of the Court of Appeal, began proceedings with an opening statement at a packed Liverpool Town Hall in front of families, lawyers and journalists. "As the Government at the highest levels has recognised, the perpetrator is responsible for one of the most egregious crimes in our country's history," Sir Adrian said. "However hard we try, ordinary language simply fails to reflect the enormity of what he did. "None of the most powerful adjectives even begin to suffice: there are no words that adequately describe what occurred." The perpetrator was given a life sentence in January, with a minimum term of 52 years for the three murders, one of the highest minimum terms on record when he was sentenced in January. The 18-year-old also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. Ahead of the hearing lawyers for the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe said they would do "all we can to assist the Chair... and uncover the truth". 'Ultimately as legal representatives of the bereaved families we are committed to getting answers for them," Rachael Wong, Director at Bond Turner, and the Recognised Legal Representative for the three bereaved families Chris Walker, also of Bond Turner, said. "We know that nothing the Inquiry reveals, or subsequently recommends will change the unimaginable loss felt by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, but we all now have a responsibility to ensure that something like this never happens again. 'We will be doing all we can to assist the Chair through the Inquiry and uncover the truth. 'It is only through intense public scrutiny that real change can be effected.' The inquiry will be split into two phases, the first focusing on issues around policing, the criminal justice system and the multiple agencies involved with the 18-year-old before the attack. The second phase will examine the wider issue of young people being drawn into extreme violence. Speaking of the first phase Sir Adrian said: 'This will be necessarily wide ranging, encompassing the criminal justice system, relevant events during his education, his engagement with social and health care, his relationship with his family and much else besides.' He added: "We need to understand what went wrong and thereafter to identify and implement the most effective measures to ensure, to the extent that we are able, that there is no repetition. "As a society we are not helpless when confronted with individuals who are known to be contemplating acts of such depravity and although no solution will be foolproof, we can identify all of the robust steps which should be taken to protect ourselves, and particularly the most vulnerable, from horrors of this kind." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the public inquiry in January to help understand what went wrong and prevent any repetition of similar incidents. Three separate referrals were made to the Government's counter-terror programme Prevent about the perpetrator's behaviour in the years before the attack, as well as six separate calls to police. A review into the Prevent referrals published in February found there was sufficient risk posed by the killer to keep his cases within Prevent active but that these were closed prematurely while too much focus was placed on a lack of distinct ideology. The inquiry will draw on evidence from interviews with witnesses and disclosure from 15 organisations, including MI5, Counter-Terrorism Policing, NHS England and Merseyside Police.
ITV News
07-07-2025
- ITV News
Public inquiry into 'horrific' Southport murders to begin
A public inquiry into 'one of the most horrific crimes in the country's history' which saw three young girls stabbed to death during a dance class in Southport is set to begin. The inquiry will look at whether the attack could or should have been prevented, given what was known about the killer. Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford, a former vice-president of the Court of Appeal, will begin proceedings with an opening statement at Liverpool Town Hall, before the inquiry hears evidence from four families whose children were injured in the attack. Axel Rudakubana was given a life sentence in January, with a minimum term of 52 years – one of the highest minimum terms on record – for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024. The 18-year-old also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. Ahead of the hearing lawyers for the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe said they would do "all we can to assist the Chair... and uncover the truth". 'Ultimately as legal representatives of the bereaved families we are committed to getting answers for them," Rachael Wong, Director at Bond Turner, and the Recognised Legal Representative for the three bereaved families Chris Walker, also of Bond Turner, said. "We know that nothing the Inquiry reveals, or subsequently recommends will change the unimaginable loss felt by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, but we all now have a responsibility to ensure that something like this never happens again. 'We will be doing all we can to assist the Chair through the Inquiry and uncover the truth. 'It is only through intense public scrutiny that real change can be effected.' In a statement released before the opening, Sir Adrian said his "focus throughout this inquiry will be a thorough and forensic investigation of all the circumstances". He said: 'Today, just less than a year since one of the most horrific crimes in our country's history took place in Southport, we open the independent inquiry into the events surrounding the attack and events leading up to it. 'Tomorrow I will then begin to hear from some of the families whose children were injured on that terrible day. 'We will hold two days of hearings this week and then resume hearings on 8 September at Liverpool Town Hall when I will hear from more of the victims, survivors and their families. 'My focus throughout this inquiry will be a thorough and forensic investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the attack and the events leading up to it. 'This will include the perpetrator's history and interactions with all the relevant agencies, how they shared information and responded to the risks that he posed. "I will then move into a second phase next year where I will consider the wider issues of children and young people being drawn into extreme violence. 'As chair of this inquiry, I am committed to proceeding at pace and with rigour whilst balancing the needs of those who live with the continued trauma of what happened in Southport in July 2024.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the public inquiry in January to help understand what went wrong and prevent any repetition of similar incidents. Three separate referrals were made to the Government's counter-terror programme Prevent about the perpetrator's behaviour in the years before the attack, as well as six separate calls to police. A review into the Prevent referrals published in February found there was sufficient risk posed by the killer to keep his cases within Prevent active but that these were closed prematurely while too much focus was placed on a lack of distinct ideology. The inquiry will draw on evidence from interviews with witnesses and disclosure from 15 organisations, including MI5, Counter-Terrorism Policing, NHS England and Merseyside Police. The widespread rioting and civil unrest following the murders is not being examined by the inquiry. Rachael Wong, director at law firm Bond Turner, representing the three bereaved families, said: 'We know that nothing the inquiry reveals or subsequently recommends will change the unimaginable loss felt by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, but we all now have a responsibility to ensure that something like this never happens again. 'We will be doing all we can to assist the chair through the inquiry and uncover the truth. 'It is only through intense public scrutiny that real change can be effected.'
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Families of Southport stabbing victims deserve 'answers' as inquiry is launched
Southport Inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford will open proceedings this afternoon as lawyers for the families of Axel Rudakubana demand 'real change' Lawyers for the families of the three young girls stabbed to death in Southport a year ago are "committed to getting answers" from the inquiry which starts today. The Southport Inquiry launches this afternoon in Liverpool looking first at how teenaged killer Axel Rudakubana was dealt with by police and other authorities before looking more widely into the issue of young people drawn towards violent extremism. Lawyers for the three bereaved families said in a statement: 'Ultimately as legal representatives of the bereaved families we are committed to getting answers for them. "We know that nothing the Inquiry reveals, or subsequently recommends will change the unimaginable loss felt by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, but we all now have a responsibility to ensure that something like this never happens again." The Southport Inquiry was announced by the Home Secretary in January following the conviction of 18-year old Axel Rudakubana for three sadistic murders of young girls on July 29 2024. Rudakubana killed Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Aguiar, nine, and six-year-old Bebe King at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in the Merseyside town that day. He also attacked eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes, who tried to disarm him. The inquiry is chaired by former Court of Appeal vice-president Sir Adrian Fulford who will make an opening statement at Liverpool Town Hall this afternoon. Evidence from the families of four children who were injured in the attacks will be heard on Wednesday. Their lawyers Rachael Wong, of Bond Turner, and Chris Walker, also of Bond Turner who is their Recognised Legal Representative, said: 'Crucially the Chair has not only been tasked with looking into the event itself, but the history and involvement of a number of state bodies in considering what actions could have been taken to prevent the Southport attack. 'The second phase of this Inquiry will then look into a much wider issue of violent extremism and how young people specifically are exposed and drawn in. We will be doing all we can to assist the Chair through the Inquiry and uncover the truth. It is only through intense public scrutiny that real change can be effected.' Ahead of the inquiry opening, Sir Adrian said in a statement: 'Today, just less than a year since one of the most horrific crimes in our country's history took place in Southport, we open the independent inquiry into the events surrounding the attack and events leading up to it. 'Tomorrow I will then begin to hear from some of the families whose children were injured on that terrible day. As Chair of this Inquiry, I am committed to proceeding at pace and with rigour whilst balancing the needs of those who live with the continued trauma of what happened in Southport in July 2024.' After two days of hearings this week, the inquiry will resume again on September 8. Rudakubana was arrested on the day of the attack, but initially denied responsibility for the deaths, before changing his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial in January. He then refused to leave his cell to face the court when he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 52 years three days later. It has emerged that Rudakubana was referred to the Prevent anti-terror scheme three times between 2019 and 2021. This was due to his interest in terrorist attacks and school shootings but he was judged not to be at risk of being radicalised. Riots spread across the UK, targeting mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, after false information spread on social media about the identity of the Southport attacker.
The Independent
29-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Revealed: Woman who wrongly had part of spine removed among hundreds of NHS surgical blunders
A woman who mistakenly had part of her spine removed is among hundreds of patients who have been the victim of NHS surgical blunders this year. New figures show there were more than 400 serious surgical mistakes carried out on patients over the past year — including the incorrect organ being removed, the wrong body part being operated on or surgical instruments being left inside a patient's body. In some cases, entire operations were carried out on the wrong patient. The Royal College of Surgeons has now warned that the NHS needs to understand what has led to the rise in incidents to stop these mistakes being repeated. Among the victims is Gill, who was advised to have surgery on her right cervical rib after struggling with excruciating pain. But the surgeon performed the wrong operation and ended up removing portions of her vertebrae, leaving her with permanent damage to her spinal cord. 'I woke up the following morning and couldn't feel my arms and my legs and just thought 'oh my gosh what is wrong with me',' she told The Independent. The part-time-cook was warned by doctors she might not be able to walk again and was left struggling to work and was unable to continue her active lifestyle, which included dancing. Her movements are limited and she struggles with the function of her right hand. 'The emotions were just horrendous, because when you are told you will never walk again, it's very daunting,' she added. Through Been let Down lawyers Bond Turner, Gill was able to achieve a settlement for her pain and suffering and loss of amenity, loss of earnings, past and future loss of earnings; future housing adaptation costs and household expenses; past and future care; equipment; and rehabilitation. According to NHS provisional data, between April 2024 and March 2025, there were 403 similar incidents known as 'never events'– serious and largely preventable surgical mistakes. The year before, in 2023/24, there were 370 cases, while in 2022/23 there were 384. In 2021/22, 407 cases were recorded and in 2020/21 there were 364 — meaning more than 1,900 cases were reported over the past five years. The most common type of surgical error, making up more than 45 per cent of all reported 'never events' in the last year, was 'wrong site surgery'. This includes procedures performed on the wrong patient or at the wrong site, such as operating on the wrong knee, eye, or limb. Provisional data revealed that, out of the 185 'wrong site surgery' incidents, surgeons operated on the wrong body part in 46 cases. In 36 cases the wrong skin lesion was removed, while in nine cases patients received a surgery intended for someone else. In just over a quarter of incidents, a surgical instrument, swab or part of a needle was left inside the patient. About 50 patients have received the wrong implant or prosthesis, including the wrong hip or knee replacement. Other mishaps included a transfusion of the wrong blood, medication given incorrectly and overdoses of insulin. At most hospitals these 'never events' only happen once or twice a year, but NHS data reveals that, at the worst offending hospitals, these incidents can happen more than 10 times a year. Over the past year there were 10 incidents at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, 11 at University Hospital Southampton and 13 at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. All these trusts have been contacted for comment. Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at University Hospital Southampton, said: 'We take any incidents of this nature extremely seriously and are sorry that they occurred. 'No patients suffered serious harm in any of these cases, however the Trust is committed to delivering the very best standards of care and is always transparent in the reporting of mistakes, encouraging staff to report incidents if they occur. 'On the rare occasion that we get things wrong, we carry out a thorough investigation, ensuring learnings are shared to help us improve the quality and safety of the clinical care we deliver and to minimise the risk of recurrence.' The Royal College of Surgeons said hospitals need to take steps to understand what has led to the rise in incidents to stop these mistakes being repeated. A spokesperson said: 'Surgical teams take the safety of patients very seriously, using the World Health Organisation's (WHO) pre and post-operative check lists to help prevent mistakes. 'When mistakes do happen, it is traumatic for both the patients and staff involved. 'NHS hospitals need to consider these figures carefully and take steps to understand what has led to the rise in incidents. 'They must learn from mistakes, in an open way, involving all theatre staff in changes to policies and procedures that can stop mistakes being repeated.' These incidents are recorded through a mandatory reporting system to NHS England and investigations are carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In the past decade the NHS has changed how the data is measured. Prior to 2014/15, they have only included incidents where a patient was directly harmed. But this was changed to include incidents with the potential to harm a patient – leading to a rise in the number of cases recorded. In 2017/18, the NHS made a minor change to the sub-categories it used to split never-events into different types of cases. An NHS spokesperson said: 'NHS staff work exceptionally hard to keep patients safe and incidents like these are extremely rare, but when they do occur NHS trusts are mandated to investigate what has happened and take effective steps to learn from them and make improvements.'
