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Grenfell Tower inquiry to open with tributes to 71 victims of blaze Grenfell Tower inquiry to open with tributes to 71 victims of blaze
(about 4 hours later)
The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will open with individual portraits of and tributes to the 71 victims of the blaze, it has been revealed.The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will open with individual portraits of and tributes to the 71 victims of the blaze, it has been revealed.
At a preparatory hearing before the main evidence sessions, which are due to start as early as mid-May, relatives and friends were told they could “memorialise their loved ones in any way they think best”. At a preparatory hearing before the main evidence sessions, relatives and friends were told they could “memorialise their loved ones in any way they think best”.
Richard Millett QC, the lead counsel for the inquiry, said opening the public hearing with individual testimonials would mean that however technical the proceedings may become, “we will never lose sight of who these inquiries are for and why we are doing it”. Richard Millett QC, the lead counsel for the inquiry, said opening the public hearing with individual testimonials would mean that, however technical the proceedings become, “we will never lose sight of who these inquiries are for and why we are doing it”.
The tributes and personal portraits will be delivered as audio recordings, statements or in other formats. The tributes will be delivered as audio recordings, statements or in other formats. They are scheduled to begin on 21 May and could run for up to two weeks.
Leslie Thomas QC, representing relatives and residents, said the pen portraits of the victims should be treated as “testimonials to the dead”. They would be “a sketch of who they were, where they lived, their contribution to the tower and local community,” he explained. Leslie Thomas QC, representing relatives, said the pen portraits of the victims should be treated as “testimonials to the dead”. They would be “a sketch of who they were, where they lived, their contribution to the tower and local community”, he explained.
The process would help put the evidence into its proper context, Thomas told the inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick. “This is so that you know the people being referred to, so that they are not just another number, another statistic.”The process would help put the evidence into its proper context, Thomas told the inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick. “This is so that you know the people being referred to, so that they are not just another number, another statistic.”
Millett said that despite investigating 150 alternative locations, most of them close to the site of the fire in north Kensington, west London, the inquiry’s preferred site remained Holborn Bars in central London, near to barristers’ chambers and many law firms.Millett said that despite investigating 150 alternative locations, most of them close to the site of the fire in north Kensington, west London, the inquiry’s preferred site remained Holborn Bars in central London, near to barristers’ chambers and many law firms.
Bereaved survivors and residents – BSRs as they are known to the inquiry – and core participants will be given expenses to pay for their travel into central London from north Kensington and a subsistence allowance. Bereaved survivors and residents – BSRs as they are known to the inquiry – and core participants will be paid expenses for their travel into central London and a subsistence allowance.
The inquiry has so far received 330,000 documents relating to the fire and is expecting ultimately to consider as many as 400,000.The inquiry has so far received 330,000 documents relating to the fire and is expecting ultimately to consider as many as 400,000.
There has been some friction in exchanges between the inquiry and the Metropolitan police investigation into possible criminal offences related to the fire. The police initially objected to the release of seven statements from firefighters who fought the blaze on 14 June 2017. There is some tension between the inquiry and the Metropolitan police investigation into possible criminal offences related to the fire. The police initially objected to the release of seven statements from firefighters who fought the blaze on 14 June 2017.
The inquiry was told that senior detectives eventually accepted assurances from Moore-Bick, that failing to disclose the material would impede the inquiry and agreed that it could be handed over to core participants. Senior detectives eventually accepted assurances from Moore-Bick that failing to disclose the material would impede the inquiry.
There are 560 audio recordings of emergency 999 calls made on the night of the fire to the London fire brigade and other stations that took calls. “The material is in some cases distressing,” Millett said. “However, the subject of the inquiry is a mass fatality … and the evidence cannot be sanitised.” There are 560 audio recordings of emergency 999 calls made on the night. “The material is in some cases distressing,” Millett said. “However, the subject of the inquiry is a mass fatality … and the evidence cannot be sanitised.”
Lawyers for many of the core participants raised concerns that the inquiry was not considering sufficiently the toxicity of the smoke produced by the blaze. “We know that at least five individuals have been treated at King’s hospital for cyanide poisoning,” Michael Mansfield QC said. “They may be just the tip of an iceberg.” There was concern that the inquiry is not considering sufficiently the toxicity of smoke. “We know that at least five individuals have been treated at King’s College hospital for cyanide poisoning,” Michael Mansfield QC said. “They may be just the tip of an iceberg.”
Expert reports on key aspects of the fire commissioned by the inquiry are due to be sent out confidentially to core participants in the coming weeks. Two more reports, on the role of the gas supply to the 24-storey tower and the question of whether water pressure was sufficient to fight the fire, are also under way. Expert reports on key aspects of the fire commissioned by the inquiry are due to be sent out confidentially to core participants in the coming weeks. Two more reports, on the role of gas supplies to the 24-storey tower and whether water pressure was sufficient to fight the fire, are also under way.
There has been speculation that the initial fire could have been due to a power surge igniting electrical equipment. Millett said: “As the evidence currently stands, there’s nothing to suggest that any electrical surge played a causative role [in the fire].” There has been speculation that the initial fire was caused by a power surge igniting electrical equipment. Millett said: “As the evidence currently stands, there’s nothing to suggest that any electrical surge played a causative role [in the fire].”
The inquiry heard that the Met police had been allowing relatives and survivors, as well as experts, to go back into the tower on occasions, although a lawyer for the police stressed that it remained a crime scene. The Met police has been allowing relatives and survivors, as well as experts, to go back into the tower, although a lawyer for the police stressed it remains a crime scene.
Sam Stein QC, for relatives, said there should be input from Grenfell victims into the Hackitt report, which is investigating building regulations. Stephanie Barwise QC told the inquiry that assessing compliance with regulations should include building designs and not be left to the second phase of the inquiry.
Pete Weatherby QC, also representing core participants, said lawyers had so far received 1,962 documents from the inquiry – mostly pictures of the inside of the charred building. Without faster disclosure of key material, he said, his clients would not be able to participate effectively in the inquiry.Pete Weatherby QC, also representing core participants, said lawyers had so far received 1,962 documents from the inquiry – mostly pictures of the inside of the charred building. Without faster disclosure of key material, he said, his clients would not be able to participate effectively in the inquiry.
The inquiry hearing was suspended shortly before lunch due to a fire alarm in the building. Weatherby said he was conscious of how distressing the fire alarm would be for the survivors and bereaved. The inquiry hearing was suspended shortly before lunch due to a fire alarm. Weatherby said he was conscious of how distressing the fire alarm would be for the survivors and bereaved.
When proceedings resumed Moore-Bick apologised for the interruption which he said must have been “distressing if not frightening” for some. When proceedings resumed, Moore-Bick apologised for the interruption, which he said must have been “distressing if not frightening” for some. If the alarm were to sound again, he said, he would rise immediately and everyone would leave.
Opening the afternoon session he said: “Before we resume can I just say I’m very sorry that the fire alarm interrupted the hearing.
“I’m particularly sorry because I feel sure that, for some of those in the room, to hear the fire alarm would have been distressing if not frightening, and I am sorry for that.”
He said it was a “genuine call” but in relation to an adjacent building. If the alarm were to sound again he said he would rise immediately and everyone would leave.
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