New Summerland inquest would be considered but application 'yet to be received'

Update from chief minister as victims' families push for fresh verdict

The chief minister says government would support the Island's Attorney General should he decide to open a new inquest into the deaths at Summerland, but no request to do so has yet been submitted.

In August 1973, 50 people died when the leisure centre on Douglas Promenade caught fire - at a subsequent inquest their deaths were recorded as being 'as a result of misadventure'.

Last year, families of the victims instructed a law firm, Phoenix Law, to try an overturn that verdict.

In 2024 the human rights law firm successfully returned fresh inquest verdicts into the Stardust Nightclub fire in Dublin in 1981 to determine that the victims were 'unlawfully killed'. 

Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher, who put forward a question to the chief minister in the House of Keys today (25 February) said there were similarities between the two disasters.

The Coroner of Inquests Act allows the Attorney General to direct the coroner to hold an inquest even where there has previously been an inquest held, Alfred Cannan confirmed.

The AG would give his full consideration to such a request at the time should one be received, Mr Cannan said.

But the chief minister confirmed that despite a letter of intent being sent to the Attorney General's Chambers in May 2024 the matter is yet to go any further: