Failings highlighted
Hudgell Solicitors’ legal team represented the families of two people who were killed in the Manchester Arena bombing at the long-running Public Inquiry.
In three volumes of findings, Inquiry Chairman Sir John Saunders highlighted failures to implement proper levels of security, that ‘significant aspects’ of the emergency response “went wrong”, and how MI5 missed a ‘significant’ opportunity to prevent Salman Abedi carrying out the attack which left 22 people dead.
Our legal team, led by Associate Solicitor Terry Wilcox, Manager of Public Inquiries, represented Core Participants in the Inquiry who lost loved ones in the attack.
Representing the family of Sorrell Leczkowski
We represented Samantha Leczkowski, mother of Sorrell Leczkowski, from Leeds, who was aged just 14 when she was killed.
Sorrell had gone to the Manchester Arena with her family to pick up her sister. Her mother Samantha and grandmother Pauline were also both seriously injured in the blast, but survived.
Her family described her as a ‘very happy, positive and caring girl’ who would ‘light up the room as she entered singing and dancing’ with a ‘long, fun-filled life ahead of her’.
She was ‘hungry for knowledge’ and dreamed of studying in New York to become an architect.
Representing the family of Philip Tron
We represented June Tron, Rachel Noble, Michael Tron and Ken Mullen, the family of Philip Tron, 32, of Gateshead.
Philip had driven with his mother, June, and his partner to collect his partner’s 14-year-old daughter. Both Philip and his partner’s 19-year-old daughter died in the blast.
One of five siblings and with a daughter of his own, Philip was described by his family as someone with a ‘huge personality and heart’ and a ‘good sense of humour’, always teasing his mother, and doing jobs for her.
Manchester Arena news
‘I had to accept I’ll never be the same person again to start moving forward’
Manchester Arena bombing survivor Sarah Nellist says it took three years for her to be able start looking forward in life – and only after she’d accepted she would never be the same person again. To this day, more than five years on, she still struggles to sleep, endures regular night terrors, avoids large crowds […]
Manchester Arena Inquiry statement: Time has come to hold organisations to account over shocking failings
Hudgell Solicitors represents the families of Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, and Philip Tron, 32, who were killed, and also more than 150 injured survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing. Following today’s publication of the second volume of findings at the Manchester Arena Inquiry, by Chairman Sir John Saunders, Solicitor Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “This […]
Statement on “defamation and harassment” of Manchester Arena bombing survivors
Solicitor Neil Hudgell said: “A number of our clients, including Martin Hibbert, have instructed us to issue proceedings against a named individual for defamation and harassment, including a claim in damages as well as for restraining injunctions. “These relate to outlandish claims following the Manchester Arena atrocity that our clients are not genuine and did […]
National award recognises support provided to Manchester Arena bombing survivors
Hudgell Solicitors work with rehabilitation specialists Proclaim Care to provide a package of pro bono support to injured survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, has won industry recognition last Friday. We were jointly named as winners of the Partnership Initiative of the Year Award at the Case Management Society UK (CMSUK) Celebration and Awards […]
Manchester Arena Inquiry: Lawyers call for prosecutions in relation to ‘serious shortcomings’ in security
The Manchester Arena Inquiry has today released the first volume of its report into the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing which killed 22 people in which Chairman Sir John Saunders concludes there were a series of “serious shortcomings” in security measures. The retired High Court judge said: “The security arrangements for the Manchester Arena should have […]
Mother of Manchester bombing victim ‘relieved’ by conviction of bomber’s brother and hopes for further answers at inquiry
The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim says the conviction of Hashem Abedi for the murders of the 22 people who died in the terror attack came as a ‘relief’, and says she is hopeful of further clarity from future legal hearings. June Tron’s son Philip, 32, died when caught up in the blast […]
Our client reviews
We’re always committed to getting the optimum outcome for you.
FAQs
What were the findings of Volume 1, which considered whether security arrangements were sufficient?
This section addressed the security arrangements and missed opportunities for detecting and stopping Salman Abedi or reducing the harm he caused.
The findings of this volume were published in June 2021 and highlighted failures relating to implementing proper security; the training of security guards; the recruitment of appropriate staff; planning for events; event risk assessments; monitoring of the site; CCTV monitoring and the failure to identify the blind spot in which Salman Abedi hid before detonating his bomb.
Following the publication of the first volume of findings, Neil Hudgell, executive chairman of Hudgell Solicitors, and part of our Manchester Arena Inquiry legal team, said;
This inquiry has strongly demonstrated that there was an inexcusable catalogue of failings at every level which made the venue an attractive target to a terrorist attack, failed to deter or prevent the outrage, and as a result contributed to the loss of life and injury.
Significantly, at the time, despite the country’s national threat level for a terrorist attack being classed as severe, the Government did not have laws in place to enforce venues such as the Manchester Arena and other concert venues to take appropriate counter-terrorism measures in such an environment.
As a result of these combined failings, thousands of young people who attended the concert on that night were left an open and vulnerable target for terrorists because the security around the venue and event was nowhere near what it needed to be. There were gaps and failings galore.
What were the findings of Volume 2, which considered whether the emergency response was adequate?
This volume dealt with the emergency response to the attack and examined the planning and preparation by the responders. The report was published on November 3, 2022, and included 149 recommendations.
Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said “significant aspects” of the emergency response “went wrong” and concluded that it was likely that failings had prevented 28-year-old John Atkinson’s survival.
He said he could not rule out the possibility that the youngest victim of the attack, eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos, could have been saved with better treatment.
Following the publication of the second volume of findings, Neil Hudgell, executive chairman and part of our Manchester Arena Inquiry legal team, said: “When the bomb was detonated, a well-organised, reactive, properly co-ordinated, decisive and brave response was needed at speed. Those injured sadly got an emergency response which was completely under-planned and ill-prepared, which was chaotically led, hesitant, and fearful.
It left seriously injured people feeling abandoned and alone during the most terrifying moments of their lives, denying some the chance of coming away from the attack with their lives intact. The response was simply shameful.
There was no clear communication across emergency services to enable decisive decision-making to be made. This ultimately resulted in the rescue of people from inside the area not being made the number one priority. How can that be the basis of any major incident response, where it is known there have been multiple life-threatening injuries and deaths?
People who could potentially have been saved lost their lives whilst emergency crews were held outside for their own safety. It was therefore left to ordinary members of the public, many badly injured themselves, to help others.
What were the findings of Volume 3, which asked whether the attack should have been prevented?
Chairman Sir John Saunders said MI5 missed a “significant” opportunity to take action that might have prevented Abedi from carrying out the attack.
In the months leading up to the attack, security services had obtained two key pieces of intelligence about Abedi but did not share them with local counterterrorism police,
Had they done so, Abedi could have been subject to a “port stop” under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 when he flew into Manchester Airport from Libya on 18 May 2017.
Sir John said it has been a “real possibility” that Abedi had the switch for the bomb used in the attack in his possession at the airport.
Meet our public inquiry lawyers
Local lawyers at the heart of your community
Dr Neil Hudgell
Victoria Richardson
Advice
Expertise. Trust. Authority
Post Office Scandal: How are victims being compensated?
A year ago the Post Office scandal was dramatised in the TV series ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Hundreds more victims have since come forward and governments have pledged both justice and compensation. Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who has successfully represented hundreds of subpostmasters, explains how the various schemes are working.
Post Office Horizon Shortfall Scheme Compensation
The Horizon Shortfall Scheme compensates people affected but not convicted of a crime by the Post Office. If you were one of more than 2,400 applicants, Hudgell Solicitors can help ensure you receive the damages you deserve. The scheme offers a minimum settlement of £75,000. As solicitor Neil Hudgell explains, a review by our expert […]
Post Office Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme
The Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme enables victims of the Post Office scandal to secure compensation. We have registered claims and secured millions in payments on behalf of our clients whose convictions were quashed. We can advise on whether to accept the £600,000 offer or whether to pursue higher damages. As solicitor Neil Hudgell explains, our […]