Reparation offer an insult, victim of Manchester Arena bomb says
Survivors prepare to take legal action as MI5’S failure to stop suicide attack likely to be criticised by inquiry
A MANCHESTER ARENA bomb victim has called her compensation offer an “insult” as survivors prepare for legal action once a public inquiry concludes.
The judge-led investigation into the atrocity, due to publish its final report today, is expected to criticise MI5’S failure to stop the suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, before he killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
The end of the two-and-a-half year process will prompt lawyers to mount civil action on behalf of at least 150 survivors, chiefly in pursuit of damages for physical and psychological injuries.
Lisa Bridgett, 50, was caught up in the explosion while waiting to collect her daughter Ashleigh, 17, after the concert. She was close to Abedi when he detonated his homemade bomb.
Her shrapnel-damaged finger had to be amputated and she has been left with lifelong breathing difficulties, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ms Bridgett has been offered less than £20,000 in compensation from the Government through its Criminal Injury Compensation Authority scheme, which makes awards to victims of crime and terror attacks. Ms Bridgett has so far shunned the offer, adding that it was “disgusting” that those caught up have only been offered “scraps of help”.
She said: “We had that tremendous help and support from the public initially [in fundraising], but I’ve not had a penny from the Government, or anyone else who let us down that night.”
Terry Wilcox, whose firm Hudgell Solicitors represents more than 150 survivors and bereaved families, said that focus will shift to ensuring the victims are fully compensated for the “unimaginable suffering they’ve endured”.
Mr Wilcox also called for the implementation of a duty of candour at inquiries after becoming frustrated by “damage limitation evidence” offered by key witnesses, who changed their accounts and “admitted deliberate omissions in their statements”.
The proposed legal duty has been dubbed the “Hillsborough law”, after it was first suggested by those affected by the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, and would require public authorities and officials to proactively co-operate with official investigations.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Since this sickening attack our dedicated team has helped victims get more than £4.1million in taxpayer-funded compensation. Eligibility rules mean it can continue to be one of the most generous schemes in the world, paying out more than £158million to those who needed it most last year.”