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BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Commemorations to remember 1973 Summerland fire's 50 victims
Memorial services for the 50 victims of the Isle of Man's Summerland fire disaster will be held this were about 3,000 people at the complex - one of the biggest entertainment venues in Europe at the time - when it quickly became consumed by flames on 2 August mark the 52nd anniversary of the disaster, Douglas Council will hold a service at the Kaye Memorial Garden at about 18:45 BST on Saturday. Council Leader Devon Watson said the tragedy continued to have a "lasting impact on survivors and the families of those who were lost" and added that an annual service was "essential to ensure they are never forgotten". The service will be led by Douglas Mayor's chaplain Michael Steven Crellin will then lay a wreath on the memorial.A separate commemoration organised by Tina Brennen and the Justice for Summerland Group - which represents some of the disaster's survivors and the families of those affected by it - will see a one-minute silence being held on the Summerland site at 19:00. The tribute will also include wreath laying and a performance from Ellan Vannin Pipes and will take place in front of a "wall of faces" of the victims, family and friends of the 50 who died during the will be in place from 19:00 until 20:00 on Brennen said it would represent that "many people are still suffering" from the tragedy, and allow them to "have their voices heard" as they hold up messages about the will coincide with a weeklong exhibition at the Villa Marina Arcade. This will be open daily from 10:00 until 16:00. Called Summerland 50 - Remembering for the Future, the display covers the development of the north side of Douglas prom during the Victorian era, .It includes the inception of Summerland, the fire and its aftermath up until the present this year, Justice for Summerland submitted an application for a fresh inquest into the was rejected by the island's Attorney General in group is now appealing against that decision and continues to campaign for a memorial on the site of Summerland, which is now a disused carpark. 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.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Isle of Man: Bid for fresh inquest into Summerland fire rejected
An application for a fresh inquest into the deaths of 50 people in the 1973 Summerland fire disaster has been rejected by the Isle of Man's Attorney General.A group representing some of the victims and survivors of the tragedy made a formal submission in March, calling to reopen the for Summerland previously called for the original misadventure verdicts for the 50 people that died, to be the latest application, the Attorney General said there was "no fresh evidence revealing any relevant or material errors or misunderstanding" in the original investigation in 1974. About 3,000 people were at the Summerland entertainment complex when a blaze broke out on the evening of 2 August was thought to have been started by three boys from Liverpool smoking.A public inquiry held in the aftermath found there were "no villains" and only human beings who made mistakes. 'No fresh evidence' Belfast-based human rights law firm Phoenix Law, which represented the families, had made the application for a new inquest, saying 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 a spokesman for the Attorney General's Chambers said the investigations and findings of the report produced in May 1974, produced by the Summerland Fire Commission, "comprised a thorough, effective and proportionate inquiry into how the fire took hold and spread, and how it came to be so fatal".He said: "The application made to the Attorney General presents no fresh evidence revealing any relevant or material errors or misunderstanding in the detailed findings of the Summerland Commission Report."Speculation that there might be evidence which might call the commission's findings into question does not constitute relevant fresh evidence.""The 1974 verdicts place no responsibility whatsoever on the innocent victims."Phoenix Law previously said it wanted to reopen the case to "ensure a comprehensive investigation" using "modern legal and forensic standards".In a letter from the Attorney General to the law firm, it said it recognised the sensitivity around the case, but had to consider the legal basis for reopening it without emotion. He added that nothing said was intended to add to "their burden or ongoing grief" and he was "very sorry if it does so".Phoenix Law has been contacted for a response. 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.
