Coroner set to rule out hearings into Manchester terror attack

The coroner dealing with the in the Manchester Arena bombing inquests has ruled against proceeding with hearings into the 22 deaths. The coroner has stated the reason is that the British government is refusing to allow protected material to be made public. The judge Sir John Saunders put down his ruling on Friday, as a result of giving the green light to an application by Home Secretary Priti Patel to exclude key intelligence material.

The judge is highly likely to recommend that the inquests are converted into a public enquiry. This will allow secret hearings to take place. Despite the judge citing a risk to national security as the reason behind the withholding of documents. It is now likely that the families of the victims will never know the full details of why MI5 failed to stop the attack that led to the death of 22 people in May 2017.

Sir John Saunders stated in his ruling that “Accordingly, my provisional view is that an adequate investigation, addressing fully the statutory questions…could not be conducted within the framework of the inquests”. However, understandably the families are far from impressed with the process. Mr Steve Howe, who lost his wife Alison in the bombing, stated he is “very annoyed and disappointed” by the decision. Mr Howe pulled no punches, adding “It is a cover-up, right from day one. I know they are saying this information will safeguard the public, but it would also shed some light for the families”. These comments were backed up by John Cooper QC who is representing the families of half of the victims. Mr Cooper stated told a hearing last week that the secrecy application had come from “the very people who could potentially be severely criticised” in any inquest. 

Mr Cooper made it clear from the outset that he and the families were only interested in what information MI5 and the police had at the time and not how they obtained it. These events have received little to no coverage with only a handful running pieces on this. It is unlikely that there will be appeal process available to the victim’s families and with a public enquiry far from confirmed these will be yet more torturous times for the victim’s families.

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Oliver Down

Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!

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