Manchester Arena families urge the Chair of the Public Inquiry to rethink the approach to Security Services’ evidence

30 September 2020

Manchester Arena Inquiry

On 28 September 2020, Pete Weatherby QC, in an opening speech on behalf of 7 families bereaved by the Manchester Arena atrocity, expressed grave misgivings about the obsessive secrecy surrounding evidence involving the security services and whether the attack could have been prevented.

There has been widespread media coverage of the opening speech, which highlighted the families’ concerns that key sections of the Inquiry are set to take place behind closed doors and without adequate public scrutiny or family participation, and without their lawyers.

Pete Weatherby QC and Anna Morris of Garden Court North, and Harriet Johnson of Doughty Street Chambers represent the 7 families, instructed by Nicola Brook and Elkan Abrahamson of Broudie Jackson Canter and Terry Wilcox of Hudgell’s Solicitors, assisted by Christian Weaver and Mira Hammad of Garden Court North.

You can read more about the opening by following the links to media coverage below, and you can follow the speech on Youtube (at 1h 44m 30s).

Sky News

BBC News

The Times

The Telegraph

Channel 4 News

The Evening Standard

News

News

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Garden Court North's Pete Weatherby KC speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live about the IOPC's report into the mishandling of the Hillsborough disaster.

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Metropolitan Police firearms officer lawfully killed Giedrius Vasiljevas, inquest jury finds

Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver represented Giedrius' wife during the inquest at East London Coroner's Court.

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Avril Rushe accepts invitation to join Garden Court North Chambers

Avril Rushe has a busy public law practice with a particular expertise in mental capacity and community care.

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Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 Report finds “inexcusable” mistakes and delayed lockdown led to 23,000 avoidable deaths

Garden Court North's inquests and public inquiries team represent the Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice UK during the Inquiry.

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