Survivors Of Manchester Arena Bombing Judicial Review Hearing Challenges Public Inquiry Involvement

Survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing are in the High Court this week seeking a judicial review after they were blocked from any formal involvement in a public inquiry into the tragedy.

A remote hearing is due to take place on 7 and 8 July via Skype, before Lady Justice Sharpe and Mr Justice Garnham. The case is being heard by two senior judges as the court has said the background to the case is of the highest importance and it potentially raises an issue of some general public importance.

The specialist Public Law and Human Rights team at Irwin Mitchell had been instructed by more than 50 people seriously injured in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and they will argue that the refusal of core participant status to some of the survivors in the inquiry is a breach of their human rights.

Home Secretary Priti Patel last year announced a public inquiry into the atrocity and said: “It is vital that those who survived or lost loved ones in the Manchester Arena attack get the answers that they need and that we learn the lessons, whatever they may be.”

Core participants who have been granted formal status include the relatives of those killed, Police, security services, emergency services, the Arena and the Greater Manchester Authorities. Survivors argue that fairness demands that they should also be granted this formal status to allow them to participate and help ensure lessons can be learnt.

Some of the survivors have life-long serious injuries and disabilities. Some have lost the function of some limbs. Some have severe PTSD. Many of these survivor victims were impacted by the bomb blast and were close to death.

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a rucksack bomb in a foyer area of the Arena after an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017 - killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more.

In March his brother Hashem Abedi, 22, was found guilty of murdering 22 people following a trial at the Old Bailey. He was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder, relating to those injured, as well as conspiring to cause explosions.

The inquiry is due to commence in September.