Truth? Justice? Accountability?
Truth? Justice? Accountability? Modern Challenges of Major Inquests & Inquiries 2018 Contents Programme Talk Speakers Inquests, Inquiries & Group Actions Connect with Chambers Members of Chambers Programme 5.30pm: Registration 6pm: Introduction Major Inquiries & Inquests by Matthew Hill Secrecy & Sensitive Information by Emma Louise Fenelon When are Inquiries and Inquests Granted? by Gideon Barth 7pm: Panel discussion with Deborah Coles, Sir Neil Garnham, Dame Christina Lambert & Peter Skelton QC 7.30pm: Drinks Reception © 1 Crown Office Row 1 MAJOR INQUIRIES AND INQUESTS – LESSONS AND WARNINGS FROM BLOODY SUNDAY AND HILLSBOROUGH Matthew Hill Introduction 1. On 30 January 1972, 13 people were shot and killed in Derry/Londonderry by members of the Parachute Regiment. An inquiry was established into the circumstances of the deaths, chaired by Lord Widgery, then the Lord Chief Justice. His conclusions, which included a “strong suspicion” that some of those who had died had been handling weapons, were widely condemned as a whitewash. The events of the day remained an open sore in the city and beyond. A lengthy campaign by the families, adopted by academics, politicians and journalists, followed. A quarter of a century later a fresh inquiry was ordered. The conclusions exonerated all of those who died, laid blame at state actors for the deaths and vindicated those who had campaigned over the decades. Sadly, many relatives of those who died did not live to see the outcome for which they had fought. 2. On 15 April 1989, 96 people received fatal injuries during a crush at a football match at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield. An inquiry was established into the circumstances of the deaths, chaired by Lord Justice Taylor, later the Lord Chief Justice.
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