Attorney General declines application for fresh Summerland inquests

Prolonged campaign has sought to re-open case

The Island’s Attorney General has declined an application for a new inquest into the Summerland fire disaster.

All the details are available HERE.

The application was submitted in March on behalf of the Justice for Summerland Campaign group by Phoenix Law.

In considering whether a fresh inquest into the deaths at Summerland is desirable, the Attorney General must seek to consider and balance various factors, including:

• whether fresh evidence has emerged
• whether a different conclusion is likely at a fresh inquest and, if not, whether public confirmation of earlier findings is desirable in the circumstances
• whether the process adopted at the original inquest has caused justice to be diverted or for the inquiry to be insufficient
• whether the substantive truth regarding how the deceased lost their lives has been revealed
• the wishes of the bereaved, and
• whether there is any distinct and separate imperative that the community as a whole should be satisfied.

In a statement the Attorney General confirmed that 'having carefully considered the application, he is unable to conclude that the holding of fresh inquests is desirable and, as a consequence, will not be directing any to be held'.

You can find more on this story HERE.