News

Scope of the Inquests into the London Bombings of 7th July 2005
3 June 2010

Following a 5 day pre-inquest hearing in April 2010, Lady Justice Hallett, acting as Assistant Deputy Coroner has ruled that the 52 inquests into the deaths of the members of the public killed on 7th July 2005 should be resumed. The Coroner has adjourned the decision as to whether the inquests into the deaths of Mohammed Sidique Khan, Shezad Tawneer, Hasib Hussain and Jermaine Lindsay should be resumed.    

The Coroner has determined that the 52 inquests should be heard together and that the scope of the inquests will not only hear evidence concerning the immediate aftermath of the explosions but will also investigate issues relating to the emergency response on 7th July 2005 as well as alleged intelligence failings. On the latter issues the Coroner rejected a legal argument founded on Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights that she was required to investigate alleged intelligence failings but ruled that it was within the ambit of her discretion to inquire into this issue. The Coroner also ruled that she will hear the inquests without a jury and refused an application by a number of survivors of the bombings for interested person status.

Andrew O'Connor and Benjamin Hay are Counsel to the Inquests and Keith Morton and Fiona Canby are instructed by Transport for London.