The Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Lord Chief
Justice, has appointed Sir Martin Moore-Bick as Chair of the
independent Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.
Sir Martin is a former Lord Justice of Appeal with more
than twenty years’ experience as a judge across all types of
law.
The Inquiry has been established under the Inquiries Act
2005. It will be held in public and will report to the Prime
Minister. Sir Martin will consult with interested parties on the
Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.
Sir Martin said:
“The purpose of this independent Inquiry is to discover the
truth about what happened at Grenfell Tower, so that we can learn
lessons for the future and ensure that a tragedy of this kind
never happens again.
“It is vitally important that the Inquiry be open,
transparent and fair to all those whose involvement with Grenfell
Tower comes under scrutiny.
“It is important for everyone that the Inquiry should
establish as quickly as possible the cause of the fire and how it
was able to spread so quickly to the whole of the
building.
“I understand the desire of local people for justice;
justice for them, and for all those involved in whatever way,
will best be served by a vigorous inquiry that gets to the truth
as quickly as possible.”
The Inquiry will consider evidence from all parties
involved, including victims and their families. The Chair will
work with complete independence from the Government, supported by
civil servants seconded from government departments.
Notes to editors
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The appointment of the Inquiry Chair was announced by
the Prime Minister in a Written Ministerial Statement on 29
June 2017 - link: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-06-29/HCWS18/
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Further information about the Chair’s consultation on
the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference will be released
soon.
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Sir Martin Moore-Bick was called to the Bar in 1969 and
appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986. He was appointed a High
Court judge in 1995 and to the Court of Appeal in 2005.
During his twenty years as a judge he heard a wide variety of
commercial, civil and criminal cases. He retired as a Lord
Justice of Appeal in December 2016.
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The Secretary to the Inquiry is , previously Director
of the Office of Civil Society at the Department for Culture,
Media and Sport
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The Prime Minister is the responsible Secretary of
State under the Inquiries Act 2005, and the final report will
be delivered directly to her. The costs of the Inquiry will
be met by the Cabinet Office.
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The Inquiry website is www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk
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Media contacts for the Inquiry are Michael Clarke on
07736 485 970, Bob Honey
on 07956 579 286 or Connie
Fisher on 07532 32 35 34.
