Lawyers representing families who lost loved ones in the Summerland Fire say they lodged an appeal for a new inquest.
Fifty people died in the fire on August 2 1973, with the deaths ruled as “misadventure” by the subsequent inquest.
Phoenix Law, acting for the Justice for Summerland Campaign group, said it wants to reopen the case to ensure a “comprehensive investigation and the application of modern legal and forensic standards to the events of that fateful day”.
Appeal
Pheonix Law says its appeal to Attorney General Walter Wannenburgh KC, is on the grounds that there was “insufficiency of inquiry an/or irregularity of proceedings in the original inquest”.
It said also says that the original inquests did not comment upon, nor did they address, substantial issues which include the cause of the fire.
The firm also says that the related inquiries were inconclusive and did not remedy the deficiencies in the original inquests and that there is substantial fresh evidence which was not heard at the original inquest or commission which call into question the central conclusions.
Concern
Darragh Mackin, partner at Phoenix Law, said: “For years these families have raised concerns about the original investigation and inquest into the Summerland fire.
“Today’s application not only supports these concerns, but indeed, underscores them. It is difficult to envisage a more compelling set of circumstances to which point firmly in favour of a fresh investigation.
“It has now been uncovered that the same Scientist who led the Summerland Fire analysis was the individual at the centre of some of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history, including the Birmingham 6 and Judith Ward.
“His forensic techniques were later deemed ‘wrong, and demonstrably wrong’ and ‘valueless‘ when he was later criticised for his analysis in the Birmingham 6 and Judith Ward cases.
“This revelation coupled with the evolution in forensic techniques make a clear and indisputable need for a fresh investigation.”
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