A High Court judge has ruled that 16 children who survived the Manchester Arena terror attack will receive a total of almost £20 million in damages. The youngsters, all under 16 at the time of the 2017 suicide bombing, will be awarded sums ranging from £2,770 to £11.4 million each.
Court Approves Multi-Million Pound Settlement
At a hearing on Thursday at the Manchester Civil Courts of Justice, Judge Nigel Bird formally approved the settlement totalling £19,928,150. The judge noted that some of the claimants suffered 'catastrophic' and life-changing injuries, while others endure lasting psychological damage from witnessing the carnage.
The attack occurred on May 22, 2017, when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade, shrapnel-packed backpack bomb as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert. The atrocity claimed 22 lives and injured hundreds more.
Organisations Held Accountable for Security Failings
The damages will be paid by four defendants responsible for the safety and security of the event. These are:
- Greater Manchester Police
- British Transport Police
- Arena operators SMG (now Legends Global Services Limited)
- Security provider Showsec
A public inquiry led by Sir John Saunders found 'serious shortcomings' in security and missed opportunities to prevent the attack. The inquiry revealed that Abedi, dressed in black and carrying a large backpack, was reported as suspicious by a member of the public but was 'fobbed off'. Furthermore, a CCTV blind spot existed in the Arena area, security patrols were inadequate, and BTP officers took a two-hour break before the attack.
A Path to Justice and a Legacy of Change
Judge Bird paid tribute to the 'courage, dedication and fortitude' of the families. He stated, 'The love and care a parent gives to an injured child is beyond monetary value.' The court has also issued an order banning the identification of any of the 16 young claimants or their families.
Following this hearing, claims from another 352 people, including families of the 22 who died, will now be negotiated. The four defendant organisations have apologised and acknowledged their failures.
In a joint statement, the claimants' legal teams from Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon, and Broudie Jackson Canter said, 'This is not a day of celebration. It is a moment to acknowledge the mistakes that were made... We now expect all parties to honour their commitment to do what they can to prevent those same mistakes from happening again.'
A lasting legacy of the tragedy is Martyn's Law (named for victim Martyn Hett, 29), legislation introduced to better protect public venues from terror attacks.
