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Grenfell fire: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry | Grenfell fire: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry |
(about 2 hours 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. |
Some residents tried to move up the building to escape the flames - and it is thought a number may have ended up in one flat. | |
Victims will have state funding for legal representation at the inquiry. | 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." |
In November 2014, Sir Martin ruled that Westminster City Council could rehouse single mother-of-five Titina Nzolameso 50 miles away in Bletchley near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. | In November 2014, Sir Martin ruled that Westminster City Council could rehouse single mother-of-five Titina Nzolameso 50 miles away in Bletchley near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. |
Ms Nzolameso, who had serious health problems, couldn't afford her London flat after the government's benefits cap. | Ms Nzolameso, who had serious health problems, couldn't afford her London flat after the government's benefits cap. |
Sir Martin said it was not necessary for the council to explain in detail what other accommodation was available. | Sir Martin said it was not necessary for the council to explain in detail what other accommodation was available. |
The decision overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015. | The decision overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015. |
What is a public inquiry? | What is a public inquiry? |
By Brian Wheeler, BBC News | By Brian Wheeler, BBC News |
Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals. | Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals. |
More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War. | More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War. |
They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised. | They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised. |
They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the "terms of reference". | They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the "terms of reference". |
They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to "move with speed". | They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to "move with speed". |