Campaigners call for Summerland disaster inquest to be reopened
Fifty people died in a fatal fire on the Isle of Man in 1973
Last updated 25th May 2024
Campaigners on the Isle of Man have called for the inquest into the Summerland disaster to be reopened.
On August 2nd 1973, the Summerland entertainment centre was engulfed in a large fire as an event was held at the event space.
A total of fifty people sadly lost their lives during the fire, with another eighty people being left seriously injured.
Following the blaze, a public inquiry was set up in September 1973 that ran until the following February.
In the report's findings, it was revealed that the cause of the fire was not attributed to any specific person or group, and the deaths were instead blamed on misadventure.
Since then, the community living on the island have been pushing for a more thorough investigation, in order to give justice to those who died.
Tina Brennen, who lived close to the entertainment centre at the time of the fire, told us that campaigners have been urging the local Manx government to reopen the inquest.
"For a number of years, our members have been campaigning to get this perverse verdict overturned," she explained. "But luckily, we have a lawyer now, who is leading the campaign to get this justice, which has been 50 years overdue. And we are determined to see it through."
Brennen added that the entire population on the island has been affected by the disaster, and that the island's residents have given their support to the initiative.
So far, there has been no response from both the local and national governments, but Brennen said she was "hopeful" that the incoming government would also help push their requests through.
"Ultimately, they will put pressure on the Isle of Man government to bring about justice," she added. "We're coming into an age now where people want accountability - and that is what we will achieve here," she said. "We will get truth and we will get justice."
The Isle of Man government has been contacted for comment.
Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.