Summerland families begin legal challenge to reopen inquests in Isle of Man hearing

• Isle of Man reporter Joshua Stokes reports from Douglas Courthouse

The families of victims and survivors of the Summerland fire disaster have taken their fight for a fresh inquest to Douglas Courthouse.

Fifty people lost their lives in the fire at the Summerland leisure centre on the Isle of Man on 2 August 1973, and campaigners are now calling on the "death by misadventure" verdict to be overturned.

The families of the victims are challenging a decision from the Isle of Man's Attorney General not to commission new inquests to re-examine the cause of death in May 2025.

Jacqueline Hallam, who lost her best friend and mother in the fire, lodged a claim against the AG’s decision on behalf of the Justice for Summerland campaign, with the case due to be heard over two days.

After a minute's silence at Douglas Courthouse, the lawyer representing the families, Steven Coren, told the court how families have continued to feel a sense of injustice.

He said: "The verdict of misadventure has caused and continues to cause significant offence among the families and the survivors, and the relatives of the survivors."

Mr Corren said the ruling in the campaigner's favour would go some way to "remove the stain that innocent members of the public who were attending Summerland were in some way responsible for their own deaths".

Some of the families were present in court today, visibly emotional as key aspects of the disaster were picked apart.

The fire ripped through the leisure complex in just 20 minutes, causing 50 deaths and lifelong injuries.

Mr Corren argued that new scientific forensic investigations would, in the campaign's view, undoubtedly lead to a different outcome.

He cited recent examples of other tragedies including the Hillsborough disaster and the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, in which 48 people died during a Valentine's Day disco in Dublin.

In both cases, fresh inquests overturned the original verdicts.

Mr Coren said it was "inevitable" that a fresh inquest into Summerland would have a different outcome, citing technological advancements and expert testimony.

Oliver Helfrich, representing the AG’s chambers, said that a retrospective claim would not be successful given the time that had elapsed.

He also argued that for every family who believed a fresh inquest would be beneficial, there are more who feel it would only reopen old wounds.

He also highlighted the key differences between the Summerland disaster and those that took place at Hillsborough and in Dublin. He argued this particular case should be seen through the lens of the Isle of Man.

It will be down to a Manx judge, known as a Deemster, to make the final decision, with the hearing set to continue on Thursday 21 May.

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