An MHK is to ask the Chief Minister whether consideration is being given to seeking a new inquest into the deaths at Summerland in 1973.
The Justice For Summerland Campaign Group has been seeking new inquests for those who died in the fire in 1973.
Fifty people died in the blaze on August 2 1973 with the Summerland Fire Commission handing down verdicts of ‘death by misadventure’.
That inquired by chaired by Joseph Cantley who was not only once the island’s judge of appeal, but was the judge during the infamous Jeremy Thorpe trial.
It wants to see that ruling quashed and fresh inquests held.
Joney Faragher (Douglas East) will ask the Chief Minister about the matter in Keys on Tuesday.
Alf Cannan has previously addressed the matter and said it would require a change in the law as there is currently no power in the Isle of Man Coroners of Inquests Act 1987 to do this.
However, as reported by Josh Stokes of ITV Granada, Mr Cannan said in a letter to Jackie Hallam that the government had not entirely closed the door on the issue.
Mr Cannan was the first Chief Minister to apologise “for the pain and suffering felt by everyone affected by the fire and sorry for the failings that could have prevented such a tragedy”




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