Summerland wounds 'have not been allowed to heal'

Overturning the "misadventure" verdict recorded at the inquest into the 1973 Summerland fire disaster would "go a long way" to helping victims' families find peace, a survivor has said.

Jackie Hallam was 13 when she was caught up in the 2 August 1973 blaze at the entertainment complex on Douglas Promenade. Her mother and best friend were among the 50 people who died.

Belfast-based human rights firm Phoenix Law this week formally applied to the Isle of Man's Attorney General to order a fresh inquest into the tragedy.

Ms Hallam, who is part of the Justice for Summerland campaign group, said the original verdict had left the injured and bereaved with "wounds that have not been allowed to heal".

She said the application had been submitted "through tears and with a feeling of joy".

Ms Hallam also said it meant campaigners had now done "everything we can to rectify this miscarriage of justice".

The fire happened when Ms Hallam, originally from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, was on holiday on the Isle of Man with her mother Lorna Bryson Norton and best friend Jane Tallon.

At the time, Summerland was one of the largest entertainment complexes of its kind in Europe.

An inquiry held in 1974 heard that the fire started after three boys set light to a kiosk.

Flames spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of the Galbestos cladding used on part of the building.

The Justice for Summerland group was set up before the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, to put pressure on the Manx authorities to reconsider the original inquest verdict.

Campaigners argue the word "misadventure" wrongly implies that those who entered the complex knew they were taking a risk.

Ms Hallam said: "I think the passage of time strengthens our case really as the feelings are as strong - if not stronger - now than they were after [the fire].

"There have been people campaigning for justice for Summerland over the decades and we are only picking up where they left off, where their fight had to end due to ill-health or their own deaths.

"It's just really important to get this justice for the people that lost their lives.

"'Misadventure' is wrong and we need to see the correct verdict."

Calling for the island's Attorney General to "do the right thing", Ms Hallam said the island "deserves to be free of this sad legacy".

"We have wounds that have not been allowed to heal," she added.

"We can never get closure, but this will go a long way to us finding peace with this situation and the horrific events of that night."

The Isle of Man Attorney General's Chambers said it could "confirm that an application has been received and will be given appropriate consideration".

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