Latest news with #JusticeforSummerland
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Campaign for fresh Summerland inquest 'marches on', survivor says
Campaigners calling for the Summerland fire disaster inquest verdict to be overturned have vowed to "march on" with their "fight for justice" after a bid to have a fresh hearing was Isle of Man's Attorney General turned down a formal application by Belfast-based human rights law firm Phoenix Law on behalf of the Justice for Summerland campaign deaths of 50 people in the blaze at the leisure complex on 2 August 1973 were ruled to be Hallam, who lost her mother and best friend in the blaze, said she was "disappointed" by what was "another hurdle in the path for justice". About 3,000 people were inside the leisure complex on Douglas Promenade when the fire, thought to have been started by three boys from Liverpool smoking, took hold on 2 August 1973.A public inquiry held in the aftermath found there were "no villains", only human beings who made the application for a fresh inquest in March, Phoenix Law argued there had been an "irregularity of proceedings in the original inquest", which had not commented on or addressed "substantial issues" including the cause of the the bid a spokesman for the Attorney General's Chambers said the investigations and findings of the report, produced by the Summerland Fire Commission in 1974, "comprised a thorough, effective and proportionate inquiry into how the fire took hold and spread, and how it came to be so fatal".The campaign group, which represents some of the victims and survivors of the tragedy, previously called the decision "deplorable" and confirmed they aimed to challenge it "before the High Court". Ms Hallam, who was 13 at the time, was on holiday with her mother Lorna Bryson Norton and best friend Jane Tallon when the fire broke the events, she said: "I made it out after being trapped, but I returned home alone."Ms Hallam said the campaign to have the verdict overturned was an "extremely difficult journey" for her and other members of the group connected to the disaster but it was "too important to let go"."We consider that this has been a debt outstanding, really it's been unaddressed and unpaid for almost 52 years." "We are fighting for people we lost and we are fighting for justice," she said."We were not surprised at the rejection but it has galvanised our resolve."We are not deterred, this is a campaign that is marching on."Phoenix Law has been contacted for a comment. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Families are still searching for answers
The mayor of Greater Manchester has backed a formal application for a fresh inquest into the deaths of 50 people killed in the 1973 Summerland disaster on the Isle of Man. Andy Burnham shared his support for the Justice for Summerland Group, made up of survivors and relatives of victims. The group is calling for the island's Attorney General to reopen the case, which originally recorded a verdict of misadventure. Burnham said: "If they're still fighting it means things were not done properly at the time and they didn't get the answers that they deserved." About 3,000 people were at the Summerland entertainment complex in Douglas when a fire broke out on the evening of 2 August 1973. It was believed the blaze was started by three boys from Liverpool smoking. Lending his support, Burnham said: "I know from my experience from working with the Hillsborough families, families are often left in the wilderness. "It's too easy in this country to cover up, it's too hard for families to get to the truth. "I know if they're still fighting it means things were not done properly at the time and they didn't get the answers that they deserved," he added. A public inquiry held in the aftermath of the Summerland disaster found there were "no villains" and only human beings who made mistakes. Justice for Summerland has appointed Belfast-based human rights law firm Phoenix Law to act for the families. Darragh Mackin from the legal firm last year represented many families of 48 young people killed in the Stardust fire in Dublin in 1981, who successfully fought for their own fresh inquest. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Fresh bid for Summerland fire inquest submitted Bid for fresh Summerland inquest not yet received Commemorations mark 51 years since Summerland fire Campaigners to apply for fresh Summerland inquest Summerland survivors call for inquests review Fire crews remember 'horror' of Summerland disaster Justice for Summerland Phoenix Law - Summerland Inquest: Families lodge application for fresh inquest
BBC News
05-03-2025
- BBC News
Campaigner says Summerland wounds 'have not been allowed to heal'
Overturning the "misadventure" verdict recorded at the inquest into the 1973 Summerland fire disaster would "go a long way" to helping victims' families find peace, a survivor has Hallam was 13 when she was caught up in the 2 August 1973 blaze at the entertainment complex on Douglas Promenade. Her mother and best friend were among the 50 people who human rights firm Phoenix Law this week formally applied to the Isle of Man's Attorney General to order a fresh inquest into the Hallam, who is part of the Justice for Summerland campaign group, said the original verdict had left the injured and bereaved with "wounds that have not been allowed to heal". She said the application had been submitted "through tears and with a feeling of joy".Ms Hallam also said it meant campaigners had now done "everything we can to rectify this miscarriage of justice".The fire happened when Ms Hallam, originally from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, was on holiday on the Isle of Man with her mother Lorna Bryson Norton and best friend Jane the time, Summerland was one of the largest entertainment complexes of its kind in inquiry held in 1974 heard that the fire started after three boys set light to a spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of the Galbestos cladding used on part of the Justice for Summerland group was set up before the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, to put pressure on the Manx authorities to reconsider the original inquest argue the word "misadventure" wrongly implies that those who entered the complex knew they were taking a risk. Ms Hallam said: "I think the passage of time strengthens our case really as the feelings are as strong - if not stronger - now than they were after [the fire]."There have been people campaigning for justice for Summerland over the decades and we are only picking up where they left off, where their fight had to end due to ill-health or their own deaths."It's just really important to get this justice for the people that lost their lives."'Misadventure' is wrong and we need to see the correct verdict."Calling for the island's Attorney General to "do the right thing", Ms Hallam said the island "deserves to be free of this sad legacy"."We have wounds that have not been allowed to heal," she added."We can never get closure, but this will go a long way to us finding peace with this situation and the horrific events of that night."The Isle of Man Attorney General's Chambers said it could "confirm that an application has been received and will be given appropriate consideration". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
