After the fire that killed 72 people in June 2017, bereaved families expected arrests and prosecutions. What they got, however, was a five-year investigation — a “round-the-clock of passing dollars,” said the investigation’s counsel. Richard Millet KC said: “Many key participants have adopted a particular technique – namely the deflection of criticism.” He referred to a “cobweb of responsibility” created by the refusal of the main participants to accept responsibility, which will make the work of the panel – tasked with examining the circumstances leading to the deaths – even more difficult. For Paulo Tekle, who lived on the 18th floor, this is nothing less than an insult. His face is sunken, his eyes heavy. He went through every parent’s worst nightmare, burying his child. His young boyfriend – whose name he wants to withhold – died as a result of the fire. He was five years old then. She remembers him every day. “He wants to paint his brother and bring him back to life” “I miss how he would greet me when I came home,” he recalls. “He used to run up to me… and hug me.” The investigation has taken a toll on the entire family. “My youngest son, who was three at the time, finds it very difficult,” says Mr Tekle. “Sometimes he asks me if he can hear his voice on video. He doesn’t want to forget. He was asked what would you wish for, if you were given three things, what would you like to have? He asked for a magic pencil. “What he’s trying to say… is that he wants to paint his brother and bring him back to life. “I’m not going to ask the president to bring him back using the magic pencil, but use the magic pencil to write strong recommendations.” Image: Paulos Teklé Government ‘failed to keep people safe’ But for Edward Duffern who lived on the 16th floor of the tower, words are not enough. It’s been five years too long for him and he wants to be held accountable. He told Sky News: “I hope that the recommendations that come out of the public inquiry are fully implemented and that if necessary there is some kind of oversight mechanism, whether it’s a select committee or some other kind of body, to make sure the recommendations are implemented and are applied”. His cynicism, he says, comes from lessons he didn’t learn. “There were previous fires before Grenfell,” he said. “There was a fire in Knowsley Heights. There was a fire in Lakanal House. The government, whose primary job is to keep people safe, failed to do that. “They care more about UK PLC than keeping people safe… that’s why we’re standing here today.” Mr Daffern says lessons must be learned before another tragedy occurs. “Grenfell 2 is potentially in place,” he warned. “As we speak, there are still houses up and down the country covered in exactly the same cladding as Grenfell.” He added: “It’s five-and-a-half years since the tragedy. We need to make sure we get real change and we’re not standing here in five years again after another terrible fire.” Image: Edward Daffarn “Clear definition of systemic racism” Lawyer for the bereaved and survivors Imran Khan KC says race and unconscious bias are at the heart of what happened at Grenfell Tower. He told Sky News: “There are 85% – people from minority ethnic communities – who died during the Grenfell fire. “So the questions that need to be asked are how is it, that the tower had this number of minority ethnic people, how were they put in there, how were they treated during the fire and how were they treated afterwards. “What we heard during the investigation is that they were treated differently. We heard reports of race affecting the treatment of people. And I think that’s the clear definition of institutional or structural or systemic racism. And this investigation has got to deal with. It’s the elephant in the room.” For now, the evidence will be considered by the president and a report highlighting key findings and recommendations is expected to be issued by next year.
