Decision due in Summerland inquest challenge case
NOEL HOWARTHCampaigners will find out later if an appeal against the rejection of a bid for fresh inquests into the deaths of 50 people killed in the Summerland fire disaster on the Isle of Man has been successful.
Fifty people died after a huge fire broke out at the entertainment complex on Douglas Promenade on the evening of 2 August 1973.
The Justice for Summerland group, made up of survivors and relatives of those who died, has challenged the Attorney General's decision to reject a request for fresh hearings.
The island's First Deemster Andrew Corlett is due to hand down the judgement in the case later.
Started when three boys set fire to a kiosk outside, with the flames quickly spread through the building while about 3,000 people - mainly holidaymakers - were inside.
A public inquiry held in the aftermath of the disaster found there were "no villains", only human beings who made mistakes.
The subsequent inquest, held in 1974, recorded a verdict of misadventure – something the Justice for Summerland group - made up of survivors of the disaster and relatives of those who died – is campaigning to get overturned.
An application for fresh inquests put forward by Belfast-based human rights law firm Phoenix Law on behalf of the group in 2024 was rejected by the island's Attorney General last year.
A challenge against that decision was brought on behalf of the group in the name of the founder member Jackie Hallam, who was left with severe burns from the fire which killed her mother Lorna and best friend Jane.
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