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

Pre-inquest review hearing begins into Manchester synagogue attack

Garden Court North’s Anna Morris KC represented Adrian Daulby's family during the pre-inquest review hearing at Manchester Coroner’s Court.

News

Conscience Acquittals: A Constitutional Backstop

Garden Court North's Pete Weatherby KC and Mira Hammad argue for jury equity and the power of jurors to act on their conscience.

News

Christian Weaver represents Aalim Ahmed’s family at inquest into his high-rise tower death

Five-year-old Aalim Ahmed fell from the 15th floor of a social housing flat in Plaistow, East London, in 2024.

News

Garden Court North’s Pragnya Iovine successfully defends vulnerable family of five from eviction

Garden Court North pupil Pragnya Iovine successfully defended an eviction case brought by the landlord against the Defendant.