Grieving relative calls for access to Grenfell Tower Inquiry when it resumes next week

By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter

A grieving relative has called for those whose loved ones died in the Grenfell Tower fire to be added to the list of people allowed to attend the inquiry when it resumes next week.

The second phase of the inquiry was put on hold in March when the coronavirus lockdown started.

It is due to resume on Monday, but there will be just a handful of people there to protect people from coronavirus and maintain social distancing.

Nabil Choucair lost six family members at Grenfell Tower three years ago, and he feels that relatives should be at the inquiry when witnesses give evidence – even if numbers have to be restricted because of the coronavirus crisis.

He said he wanted to be at the inquiry “for them to see our faces. We are the families that have had families taken from us”.

Mr Choucair’s mother, Sirria, was among the 72 people who died at Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

He also lost his sister Nadia, brother-in-law Bassem, and three young nieces – Mierna, 13, Fatima, who was 11, and three-year-old Zainab, who lived on the 22nd floor.

He added that if the bereaved are at the inquiry, individuals and organisations giving evidence about their involvement with Grenfell “can’t look at us and not take notice. We can show them our feelings”.

And he said it was not the same following the inquiry by live streaming.

He said he thought if a limited amount of people were allowed it could be done safely, within the coronavirus guidelines.

He added: “This is our committee, not theirs.”

His friend, Tarek Gotti, who has known his friend’s family for years and witnessed the fire in June 2017, said: “Two million per cent they should be there.”

The inquiry is resuming with very limited numbers for now.

It means that only the chairman of the panel, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, and his colleague, Thouria Istephan, the inquiry’s lawyer, Richard Millett QC, the witness giving evidence and their lawyer will be there.

In addition, anyone giving immediate support, inquiry staff and contractors “critical to the operation of the hearings” will be allowed in.

And a journalist from the Press Association news agency will also be there.

A survivor from the 17th floor of the Tower, Virgilio “Larry” Castro, is among those to have died from coronavirus.

An inquiry spokeswoman explained that the decision to resume with limited attendance hearings was taken to avoid further delays after consulting with all core participants, which includes the bereaved.

She said: “The panel’s primary concern has been the health, safety and well-being of all those involved, and ensuring that hearings can take place safely and in line with government guidelines.

“The inquiry will keep attendance numbers under constant review. The panel are particularly keen for the bereaved, survivors and the resident community to return when possible, but safety must be their overriding concern and it is too early to suggest when or how that might be possible.”

Hearings will be live streamed online to enable core participants to participate remotely, and there will be remote well-being support services for the bereaved, survivors and residents from the Hestia charity.