Pre-inquest review hearing begins into Manchester synagogue attack
4 September 2026
Garden Court North’s Anna Morris KC represented the family of Adrian Daulby during the pre-inquest review hearing at Manchester Coroner’s Court. Credit: Alex Blair / Garden Court North Chambers.
Yesterday (3 September 2026), Garden Court North’s Anna Morris KC made submissions on behalf of the family of Mr Adrian Daulby during the pre-inquest review hearing into his death and that of Mr Melvin Cravitz.
Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz were tragically killed on 2 October 2025 during an attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester.
Adrian Daulby was hit by a bullet fired by armed police attending the scene as he held the synagogue doors shut to protect other congregants inside.
The full inquest will examine the background of the attacker, what state bodies knew about him before the attack, security at the synagogue, the role of the state in assessing the risks to the Jewish community in Greater Manchester and the emergency response to the attack.
Concerns over security services’ candour
During the pre-inquest review hearing, counsel for the Secretary of State for the Home Department (‘SSHD’) made an application to prevent certain relevant material from being disclosed to the family and other interested persons on the grounds of national security.
The effect of the Chief Coroner upholding this application is that she will then have to decide whether to ask the Secretary of State to direct that a statutory public inquiry be held into the attack, as this is the only forum in which closed evidence hearings can take place.
In submissions made before Chief Coroner Alexia Durran at Manchester Central Coroner’s Court, Anna outlined that the Daulby family were forced to respond to the application without any open disclosure from the SSHD.
She reminded the Chief Coroner of public statements made on behalf of the security services that the attacker was never referred to Prevent, nor known to counter-terrorism policing or security services and raised concerns that their application may now appear to contradict this position.
Her submission also scrutinised whether the security services are approaching the inquests with candour against the background of a demonstrable lack of candour in other inquiry proceedings, including the Manchester Arena Bombing Inquiry, in which Anna also represented bereaved family members.
Anna underlined to the Chief Coroner that whatever the outcome and effect of her decision, the Daulby family must be kept at the heart of the inquest process. They do not want focus to be lost on how Adrian died, or for his death to be subject to anything less than the most rigorous scrutiny.
Anna is instructed by Leanne Devine and Stephanie Hill of Leigh Day Solicitors.
Additional media
The Guardian – Manchester synagogue attack: ministers seek to block MI5 files from inquest
BBC News – Bid to withhold MI5 information from synagogue attack inquests
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
