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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/30/all-inquiries-should-use-grenfell-tributes-model-charity-says
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| All inquiries should use Grenfell's tributes model, charity says | All inquiries should use Grenfell's tributes model, charity says |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Future inquests and inquiries should adopt the model of commemoration hearings pioneered by the Grenfell Tower inquiry, a leading charity has said. | Future inquests and inquiries should adopt the model of commemoration hearings pioneered by the Grenfell Tower inquiry, a leading charity has said. |
| The seven days of tributes by families and friends to most of the 72 victims of the fire set a precedent and helped focus the inquiry, according to Inquest, which supports relatives in coroners’ courts. | The seven days of tributes by families and friends to most of the 72 victims of the fire set a precedent and helped focus the inquiry, according to Inquest, which supports relatives in coroners’ courts. |
| The sessions at the Millennium hotel conference centre in London were the first time a public inquiry has given over its platform to grieving relatives and allowed them such freedom of expression. Both the 7/7 inquest into the deaths of those who died in the 2005 London tube and bus bombings and the more recent second Hillsborough inquests into the 1989 football stadium disaster featured statements read out by relatives remembering victims. | The sessions at the Millennium hotel conference centre in London were the first time a public inquiry has given over its platform to grieving relatives and allowed them such freedom of expression. Both the 7/7 inquest into the deaths of those who died in the 2005 London tube and bus bombings and the more recent second Hillsborough inquests into the 1989 football stadium disaster featured statements read out by relatives remembering victims. |
| The Hillsborough coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, said at the time that the short biographical statements underlined the individual tragedies of the disaster. The Grenfell hearings went further, allowing relatives to use video, music and other media to summon up memories of those who died and to tell the stories of their lives in a series of biographical pen portraits. | The Hillsborough coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, said at the time that the short biographical statements underlined the individual tragedies of the disaster. The Grenfell hearings went further, allowing relatives to use video, music and other media to summon up memories of those who died and to tell the stories of their lives in a series of biographical pen portraits. |
| I feared the Grenfell tributes would be mawkish. I was wrong | Ian Jack | I feared the Grenfell tributes would be mawkish. I was wrong | Ian Jack |
| Those attending the hearings praised the dignity of the bereaved and the cathartic effect of the process. Others said it had helped break down barriers of suspicion that had existed. | Those attending the hearings praised the dignity of the bereaved and the cathartic effect of the process. Others said it had helped break down barriers of suspicion that had existed. |
| Deborah Coles, the director of Inquest, told the Guardian: “The commemoration hearings have humanised those who died and brought their voices into the inquiry. | Deborah Coles, the director of Inquest, told the Guardian: “The commemoration hearings have humanised those who died and brought their voices into the inquiry. |
| “They have set the tone for what the inquiry needs to achieve in terms of delivering truth, justice and accountability. This was something we had to fight for. It’s important that those who died do not remain merely names or numbers. Inquest supports the use of pen portraits in inquests and inquiries.” | “They have set the tone for what the inquiry needs to achieve in terms of delivering truth, justice and accountability. This was something we had to fight for. It’s important that those who died do not remain merely names or numbers. Inquest supports the use of pen portraits in inquests and inquiries.” |
| Commemoration sessions should, she acknowledged, be proportionate to the scale of any inquest or inquiry. | Commemoration sessions should, she acknowledged, be proportionate to the scale of any inquest or inquiry. |
| Coles added that the chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, also supported the use of pen portraits in inquests. That procedure has so far not been implemented consistently across the country. | Coles added that the chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, also supported the use of pen portraits in inquests. That procedure has so far not been implemented consistently across the country. |
| “The Grenfell inquiry team have embraced this model and acted with great sensitivity,” she said. “Hopefully it’s made this inquiry more determined to uncover the truth.” | “The Grenfell inquiry team have embraced this model and acted with great sensitivity,” she said. “Hopefully it’s made this inquiry more determined to uncover the truth.” |
| The Grenfell families were individually introduced by Bernard Richmond QC, who specialises in interviewing vulnerable witnesses. In some cases he helped lead bereaved relatives through their contributions by promoting them with questions. His gentle approach and self-deprecating humour were widely praised. | The Grenfell families were individually introduced by Bernard Richmond QC, who specialises in interviewing vulnerable witnesses. In some cases he helped lead bereaved relatives through their contributions by promoting them with questions. His gentle approach and self-deprecating humour were widely praised. |
| “We were keen to make sure we provided as comfortable and safe a space as possible,” a Grenfell inquiry source said. “We wanted to ensure that the focus remains on those who died.” | “We were keen to make sure we provided as comfortable and safe a space as possible,” a Grenfell inquiry source said. “We wanted to ensure that the focus remains on those who died.” |
| Elizabeth Campbell, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, attended almost every day of the commemoration hearings. “They have been really sensitively done,” she told the Guardian. | Elizabeth Campbell, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, attended almost every day of the commemoration hearings. “They have been really sensitively done,” she told the Guardian. |
| “It’s important that the families commemorate [those they have lost]. It shows what a great community it was in the tower. It’s very good to have the judge [Sir Martin Moore-Bick who is chairing the inquiry] come here, too, because at the bottom of everything is a human story.” | “It’s important that the families commemorate [those they have lost]. It shows what a great community it was in the tower. It’s very good to have the judge [Sir Martin Moore-Bick who is chairing the inquiry] come here, too, because at the bottom of everything is a human story.” |
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