Latest news with #ManchesterArenaInquiry
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Omagh bomb families call for special advocate for closed hearings at inquiry
Omagh Bombing Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull is hearing arguments around applications during dedicated hearings this week. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC said the inquiry, which is probing whether the 1998 dissident republican bomb attack could have been prevented, will hear some sensitive security evidence in closed hearings. Paul Greaney KC, counsel to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry (Liam McBurney/PA) The atrocity in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Speaking during hearings in Belfast on Monday, Mr Greaney said the inquiry's legal team recognises that survivors and the bereaved have spent 25 years seeking the truth, and may be 'suspicious or even cynical of the UK state's willingness to engage in a way that is straightforward and wholehearted with this inquiry'. 'We acknowledge too, that the idea of evidence being heard in circumstances in which the families and survivors will be excluded is one that they will find difficult to accept, to say the least, and accordingly, we regard it as entirely understandable that some, although not all, have suggested special advocates should be appointed to represent their interests in any closed hearings, and have made applications for that to occur,' he said. Outlining the arguments that will be made, Mr Greaney said some contend special advocates cannot legally be appointed in a statutory public inquiry, while others have said if such a power does exist it should not be exercised. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (PA) He said others have said special advocates can legally be appointed in an inquiry, and should be in this case to ensure the interests of the bereaved and survivors are protected, meanwhile others are neutral, and one group has said they are content to leave the matters to the inquiry's legal team. Mr Greaney also revealed that both the Advocate General of Northern Ireland Lord Hermer KC and Secretary of State Hilary Benn's position is that there is no power to appoint a special advocate in a statutory public inquiry. It was also noted that special advocates were not appointed in the inquiry into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko or in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Hugh Southey KC, acting for some of the bereaved families and survivors, emphasised the importance of a process from which everyone walks away feeling confident in the outcome. He said those which he represents have been calling for the appointment of a special advocate since the early days of the inquiry. 'They obviously have a degree of scepticism about the state's position in relation to this inquiry,' he said. 'There has been considerable delay in getting to this stage and also there is a history, they would argue, of the state not necessarily of being fully open, essentially about what's happened in the past, and because of that they are of the opinion that it is particularly important that any closed procedure involves the state being fully tested, and it's important also that they have confidence in the outcome of any closed procedure.' He added that special advocates played a key rule in a judicial review which was taken by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the bomb, previously of the government's decision not to call a public inquiry. 'That is part of the reason why, from their point of view, it is important that special advocates continue to be involved in the process,' he said. He argued that those he represents who are excluded from the closed hearings in terms of not having a special advocate will not understand the legal basis. 'They won't understand the evidential basis, that's inevitable, but they will also not understand, be able to know whether there is any error effectively in the approach the inquiry adopt when making those findings,' he said. The hearing will continue on Tuesday.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Omagh bomb families call for special advocate for closed hearings at inquiry
Survivors and families of those killed in the Omagh bomb have asked to be represented by a special advocate in closed hearings at the public inquiry. Omagh Bombing Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull is hearing arguments around applications during dedicated hearings this week. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC said the inquiry, which is probing whether the 1998 dissident republican bomb attack could have been prevented, will hear some sensitive security evidence in closed hearings. The atrocity in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Speaking during hearings in Belfast on Monday, Mr Greaney said the inquiry's legal team recognises that survivors and the bereaved have spent 25 years seeking the truth, and may be 'suspicious or even cynical of the UK state's willingness to engage in a way that is straightforward and wholehearted with this inquiry'. 'We acknowledge too, that the idea of evidence being heard in circumstances in which the families and survivors will be excluded is one that they will find difficult to accept, to say the least, and accordingly, we regard it as entirely understandable that some, although not all, have suggested special advocates should be appointed to represent their interests in any closed hearings, and have made applications for that to occur,' he said. Outlining the arguments that will be made, Mr Greaney said some contend special advocates cannot legally be appointed in a statutory public inquiry, while others have said if such a power does exist it should not be exercised. He said others have said special advocates can legally be appointed in an inquiry, and should be in this case to ensure the interests of the bereaved and survivors are protected, meanwhile others are neutral, and one group has said they are content to leave the matters to the inquiry's legal team. Mr Greaney also revealed that both the Advocate General of Northern Ireland Lord Hermer KC and Secretary of State Hilary Benn's position is that there is no power to appoint a special advocate in a statutory public inquiry. It was also noted that special advocates were not appointed in the inquiry into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko or in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Hugh Southey KC, acting for some of the bereaved families and survivors, emphasised the importance of a process from which everyone walks away feeling confident in the outcome. He said those which he represents have been calling for the appointment of a special advocate since the early days of the inquiry. 'They obviously have a degree of scepticism about the state's position in relation to this inquiry,' he said. 'There has been considerable delay in getting to this stage and also there is a history, they would argue, of the state not necessarily of being fully open, essentially about what's happened in the past, and because of that they are of the opinion that it is particularly important that any closed procedure involves the state being fully tested, and it's important also that they have confidence in the outcome of any closed procedure.' He added that special advocates played a key rule in a judicial review which was taken by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the bomb, previously of the government's decision not to call a public inquiry. 'That is part of the reason why, from their point of view, it is important that special advocates continue to be involved in the process,' he said.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Omagh bomb families call for special advocate for closed hearings at inquiry
Omagh Bombing Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull is hearing arguments around applications during dedicated hearings this week. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC said the inquiry, which is probing whether the 1998 dissident republican bomb attack could have been prevented, will hear some sensitive security evidence in closed hearings. The atrocity in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Speaking during hearings in Belfast on Monday, Mr Greaney said the inquiry's legal team recognises that survivors and the bereaved have spent 25 years seeking the truth, and may be 'suspicious or even cynical of the UK state's willingness to engage in a way that is straightforward and wholehearted with this inquiry'. 'We acknowledge too, that the idea of evidence being heard in circumstances in which the families and survivors will be excluded is one that they will find difficult to accept, to say the least, and accordingly, we regard it as entirely understandable that some, although not all, have suggested special advocates should be appointed to represent their interests in any closed hearings, and have made applications for that to occur,' he said. Outlining the arguments that will be made, Mr Greaney said some contend special advocates cannot legally be appointed in a statutory public inquiry, while others have said if such a power does exist it should not be exercised. He said others have said special advocates can legally be appointed in an inquiry, and should be in this case to ensure the interests of the bereaved and survivors are protected, meanwhile others are neutral, and one group has said they are content to leave the matters to the inquiry's legal team. Mr Greaney also revealed that both the Advocate General of Northern Ireland Lord Hermer KC and Secretary of State Hilary Benn's position is that there is no power to appoint a special advocate in a statutory public inquiry. It was also noted that special advocates were not appointed in the inquiry into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko or in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Hugh Southey KC, acting for some of the bereaved families and survivors, emphasised the importance of a process from which everyone walks away feeling confident in the outcome. He said those which he represents have been calling for the appointment of a special advocate since the early days of the inquiry. 'They obviously have a degree of scepticism about the state's position in relation to this inquiry,' he said. 'There has been considerable delay in getting to this stage and also there is a history, they would argue, of the state not necessarily of being fully open, essentially about what's happened in the past, and because of that they are of the opinion that it is particularly important that any closed procedure involves the state being fully tested, and it's important also that they have confidence in the outcome of any closed procedure.' He added that special advocates played a key rule in a judicial review which was taken by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the bomb, previously of the government's decision not to call a public inquiry. 'That is part of the reason why, from their point of view, it is important that special advocates continue to be involved in the process,' he said. The hearing continues.
ITV News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Southport Inquiry: Can public inquiries lead to real change?
Speaking ahead of the Southport Inquiry Figen Murrary, the mum of Martyn Hett, says the Manchester Arena Inquiry gave her the answers she needed, but it took an emotional and physical toll. The government has so far announced three new public inquiries in 2025, bringing the total of ongoing or announced inquiries to 21. But with more public inquiries than ever - are they working as they should? While public inquiries can be tools for accountability, they are not without challenges. Critics often point to the lengthy durations and substantial costs associated with these investigations and even more crucially the fact they often do not lead to change. A recent report by the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee warned inquiries were perceived as 'frequently too long and expensive, leading to a loss of public confidence and protracted trauma'. Figen Murray OBE, the mother of Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, knows all too well the emotional and physical toll public inquiries can take on families. The inquiry into the Manchester Arena Attack lasted more than three years. She said: "Going through an inquiry as a family member who has been directly affected either by death or injury, it is one of the most traumatic experiences I have ever gone through. "Once you see something, you can't un-see it. And when you hear things you can't un-hear them. So people need to appreciate that sitting through an inquiry you see things, you hear things, you go through all sorts of emotions and it's brutal." However Figen maintains the inquiry did give her the answers she needed and helped her campaign for Martyn's Law. Figen Murray said: They're crucially important because they make people accountable and they actually make sure all the facts are on the table and people can examine them and actually make sense of what happened and it puts all the pieces together that are missing. "I think inquiries are absolutely crucial to learning from bad catastrophic events and finding out what can be done to avoid that from happening again." While few will disagree with the need for an inquiry into the Southport tragedy, some remain skeptical as to what it'll achieve. "It had been hoped Southport would be the first to adhere to the Hillsborough Law which would force public officials to tell the truth at inquiries from the outset or face criminal sanctions but the bill's yet to be passed." Elkan Abrahamson, Director of Hillsborough Law Now believes the current inquiry process is ineffective. "There are two big reasons why I think they are ineffective," he said. "The first-is the lack of a duty of candour so it is easy to mislead a public inquiry - certainly in the early stages before an inquiry kicks off and the second is a lack of any oversight mechanism to see that any recommendations are, if not fully implemented, then at least properly considered. "Time and again we have a public inquiry where recommendations are made and just ignored and we have to do something about that." But Professor Lucy Easthope, one of the country's leading emergency planners, believes if done well the Southport Inquiry could bring positive change. "One of the things about the inquiry is there wasn't a trial which many people were relieved about in some ways but it did mean there were a lot of questions unanswered and the inquiry can go much more broadly into other questions as well," she said. "There is no doubt that inquiries done well with the right disclosure and with a very focused chair that demands things of the people giving evidence does inevitably and necessarily change practise. "The sad thing for us is to have to see it being in an inquiry. " So it seems this public inquiry will itself come in for intense scrutiny. The big question, will be whether it'll be able to provide clarity and a degree of closure to the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all the others affected by the terrible events of last summer.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mother of Manchester Arena victim welcomes royal assent for Martyn's Law
The mother of a man who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack, who campaigned for tougher anti-terror legislation, said knowing people's lives will be saved is a 'big thing' after it became law. Martyn's Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, requires UK venues hosting 200 or more people to prepare for a terror attack, after receiving royal assent on Thursday. Larger venues expecting 800 or more must also take steps such as using CCTV, bag checks or vehicle inspections. Figen Murray, who campaigned for the law change in memory of her 29-year-old son Martyn Hett, met Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street and said she is 'absolutely over the moon'. Ms Murray told the BBC's North West Tonight: 'Somebody earlier was saying, 'is it eight years? It feels like yesterday'. 'And to me, it always feels like yesterday. I remember everything so vividly, of course, and it will stay with me forever. 'But having the campaign come to this kind of end is really massive.' She later said: 'We lost our child and I can't bring Martyn back, but to know that people's lives will be saved is a big thing.' Mr Hett and 21 other people were killed in the bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. Ms Murray completed a 200-mile walk from Manchester Arena to Downing Street and delivered a letter to then-prime minister Rishi Sunak in May last year as part of her campaign. The Bill was laid before Parliament in September. Sir Keir told the BBC: 'I would like to think I had the wherewithal to do what Figen has done. 'I'm not sure in my heart of hearts I would be able to pick myself up as she has done after the most awful of circumstances, to then campaign and to bring that change on behalf of other people, to make sure they never go through what she has been through and what her family has been through. 'I find that incredible.' The Prime Minister labelled Martyn's Law a 'landmark moment' in improving safety at public events across the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Martyn's Law will significantly strengthen public safety across our country. I'd like to thank Figen Murray for her tireless work to make this law a reality. 'This Government is securing Britain's future through the plan for change and, as the eighth anniversary of the attack approaches, this new law delivers upon the lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry to keep people safe.' The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will take on the role of regulator for the legislation, the Home Office said. The Act will not come into force for at least two years to allow the SIA's new function to be established and give those responsible sufficient time to understand their new obligations and plan ahead.
