What's happened
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire express frustration over potential delays in justice, with criminal trials possibly not starting until 2029. The inquiry revealed systemic failures and dishonesty from building firms, raising concerns about accountability for the 72 lives lost in the 2017 tragedy.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian highlights the frustration of survivors, noting that Lord MacDonald warned of potential delays in trials until 2029, stating, "Unless processes are massively expedited, justice is a very long way away." The Mirror echoes these sentiments, with survivors expressing concern that delays could lead to further tragedies, as O'Connor stated, "What you're doing by delaying this even longer is putting us through trauma." The inquiry's findings have prompted calls for urgent action, yet the Metropolitan Police indicated they need 12 to 18 months to review the inquiry's report before proceeding with charges.
How we got here
The Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 resulted in 72 deaths, prompting a public inquiry that highlighted decades of regulatory failures and dishonesty in the construction industry. Survivors and families have awaited justice for seven years, but recent warnings suggest trials may not commence until 2029.
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Kenneth Donald John Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of River Glaven, QC is a British lawyer and politician who served as Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales from 2003 to 2008. In that office he was head of the Crown Prosecution Service. He was
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On 14 June 2017, a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London, at 00:54 BST; it caused 72 deaths, including those of two victims who later died in hospital.