This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40438701
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Grenfell fire: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry | Grenfell fire: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry |
(35 minutes later) | |
Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, sources say. | Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, sources say. |
The government is likely to confirm Sir Martin's appointment on Thursday. | The government is likely to confirm Sir Martin's appointment on Thursday. |
A legal source who has worked with him said he was "highly respected" in the profession and "intellectually superb". | A legal source who has worked with him said he was "highly respected" in the profession and "intellectually superb". |
Appointing people to lead public inquiries can be controversial - the inquiry into historical child sex abuse has had four chairwomen in three years. | Appointing people to lead public inquiries can be controversial - the inquiry into historical child sex abuse has had four chairwomen in three years. |
Police have said 80 people are now presumed dead in the Grenfell disaster, which happened in west London on 14 June. | Police have said 80 people are now presumed dead in the Grenfell disaster, which happened in west London on 14 June. |
But the final death toll will not be known until at least the end of the year. | But the final death toll will not be known until at least the end of the year. |
Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats. | Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats. |
Victims will have state funding for legal representation at the inquiry. | |
Sir Martin Moore-Bick | Sir Martin Moore-Bick |
Sir Martin retired as a Lord Justice of Appeal in December. | Sir Martin retired as a Lord Justice of Appeal in December. |
As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law before spending more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. | As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law before spending more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. |
The legal source told the BBC: "He (Sir Martin) had a successful practice in shipping law at the Bar and would have had to deal with many technical issues in shipping cases - for example, the causes of a ship sinking. | The legal source told the BBC: "He (Sir Martin) had a successful practice in shipping law at the Bar and would have had to deal with many technical issues in shipping cases - for example, the causes of a ship sinking. |
"This would have meant mastering complex technical evidence and dealing with a raft of expert engineers. | "This would have meant mastering complex technical evidence and dealing with a raft of expert engineers. |
"Though different in nature, these would be engineering issues of similar complexity to those he would have to deal with in the Grenfell inquiry. | "Though different in nature, these would be engineering issues of similar complexity to those he would have to deal with in the Grenfell inquiry. |
"He would also have had to deal with heavy engineering issues while a judge in the commercial court." | "He would also have had to deal with heavy engineering issues while a judge in the commercial court." |
The source added: "He is unfailingly courteous (and) prepared to change his mind in the light of persuasive argument and evidence." | The source added: "He is unfailingly courteous (and) prepared to change his mind in the light of persuasive argument and evidence." |