Rosamund Kissi-Debrah settles legal claim against Government over daughter’s death
The mother of a nine-year-old girl who was the first person to have air pollution recorded on her death certificate has settled legal action against the government for an undisclosed amount.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah’s daughter, Ella, died just after her ninth birthday in February 2013, having suffered a fatal asthma attack.
Dangerous levels of air pollution “made a material contribution” to her death, a coroner ruled following a second inquest in December 2020.
The family lived about 25 metres from the South Circular road in Lewisham, which Ella walked by on her way to and from school. Before her death, Ella was admitted to hospital more than 30 times in three years after numerous seizures.
The inquest revealed that levels of pollution at Catford monitoring station, a mile from Ella’s home, “consistently” exceeded lawful EU limits over the three years before her death.
Today Ms Kissi-Debrah said: “I have been fighting for justice for Ella for more than 14 years. Firstly, to find out what was making her so severely ill, and secondly to raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution.
“Nothing will ever make up for the pain and suffering that Ella went through, or for the trauma of losing a beloved daughter and sister at such a young age.
“The loss to our family is immeasurable.”
Ms Kissi-Debrah, along with Ella’s siblings, met with Emma Hardy MP, Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), this morning.
At the meeting she doubled down on her calls for government legislation to bring the UK in line with WHO air quality guidelines such as a new Clean Air Bill known as ‘Ella’s Law’.
She said: “I have told Ms Hardy today that so much more needs to be urgently done to improve our air quality and that I stand ready to assist her and the government to tackle what has become a public health crisis.”
In January, Ms Kissi-Debrah announced that she would sue the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care, for compensation for personal injury over her daughter’s death.
When the High Court action was first announced under the previous Conservative government, the departments said they would be disputing the claim.
A statement issued on behalf of the three government departments today said: “Ella’s suffering and death were a tragedy. On behalf of the Government departments who were party to the claim, we again take this opportunity to say we are truly sorry for your loss.
“To lose a loved one at such a young age is an immeasurable loss.
“Your words, both in this litigation and in your public campaigning, have made a considerable impact.”
The statement said the Government is committed to delivering a “comprehensive and ambitious” Clean Air Strategy including a series of interventions to reduce emissions as well as a review of how air quality information is communicated with members of the public.
Ms Kissi-Debrah’s lawyer Susie Labinjoh, partner for Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “This has been a long and arduous battle for Rosamund. The settlement is a measure of her sheer determination to get recognition for her daughter’s pain and suffering from those responsible for tackling air pollution.
“I pay tribute to Rosamund’s work in raising awareness about the dangers of air pollution and wish her and her family all the very best for the future. It has been a privilege to represent Rosamund and her family.”
Pictured top: Ella Kissi-Debrah became the first person in the UK to have air pollution cited on their death certificate (Picture: Ella Roberta Estate)