4th OCTOBER – PRESS STATEMENT AT THE UK COVID-19 PUBLIC INQUIRY PRELIMINARY HEARING
Aamer Anwar- Solicitor statement on behalf of the Scottish Covid-19 Bereaved families for Justice-
This morning our legal team appeared at the UK Inquiry on behalf of the core participants Scottish Bereaved Covid-19 Families at the UK Public Inquiry’s first Preliminary Hearing in London. Today’s hearing dealt with Module 1 which is designed to investigate the United Kingdom’s resilience and preparedness or lack thereof.
The core function of this inquiry is not to enquire into the direct circumstances of individual tragic deaths that occurred but is instead to examine the pandemic in order to ensure that in future deaths and suffering and harm cannot occur on such a scale again. Its inquiry will be into high level decision making and systemic issues and failures.
Our Senior Counsel Claire Mitchell KC made submissions to Baroness Hallett, Chair of the UK Covid Public Inquiry. Present on behalf of the bereaved families was the Chair of the family group Dr Alan Wightman & Peter McMahon.
In our submissions we stated:-
“Over the last two years the Scottish Families we represent have campaigned for a robust, independent and transparent Public Inquiry into the handling of the pandemic. The Scottish families welcomed the approach of the Baroness Hallett and her Inquiry in assuring them that their voices will be heard at the UK Inquiry and its heart.. Today is the start of a process and the grieving families hope that this public inquiry will be an effective and credible mechanism to ensure what happened to them will not happen again.”
It is ironic and deeply worrying that the UK Inquiry set up after Scotland is now under way whilst Scotland’s Inquiry has stalled. The first reaction of the families was dismay and anger at the delay that the Scottish Chair’s resignation will cause to the Scotland’s Covid-19 Inquiry, so far it has failed to deliver on the promises made to them and it has wasted too much time.
Any new Judge chairing the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry must be robust, independent and with sufficient experience to carry out their role without interference from anyone. Their first task must be to win the trust of the bereaved families. We will meet with the Deputy First Minister John Sweeney next week to raise family concerns.
Today we welcome the UK inquiry’s determination to expose culpable conduct, identify wrong decisions and judgements made and ensure that lessons are properly learned.
The UK Inquiry today stated they will scrutinise Government decision making, made by a very significant number of bodies and individuals over many years.
The families we represent have fought for truth, transparency and accountability. No institution or Minister of Government whether they be Scottish, Welsh, UK or Northern Irish should be allowed to escape robust scrutiny.
STATEMENT BY BEREAVED RELATIVE PETER MCMAHON
2 years ago this month I lost my wife Debbie to Covid 19. I stand here now at the start of the inquiry, representing Debbie, my family and the members of the Scottish Covid 19 Bereaved Families for Justice group seeking answers and accountability for the decisions taken by those in power that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.
There is justified anger within our group and across all of the UK at the government who failed every one of those lost souls in the most basic and fundamental right, the right to actually live.
We saw how the health systems in other countries were being swamped , yet we failed to provide our NHS with the necessary tools and PPE to help them in their fight against the virus.
We saw how early testing could help control the spread of the virus, we never had facilities for sufficient testing in place. We saw how closing borders while not completely eradicating the virus could slow the spread and give countries time to prepare, yet we never closed our borders until it was too late instead opting to “take it on the chin” as the PM said.
We saw how early lockdowns saved lives, yet we locked down too late. We saw how enforcing the lockdown slowed the spread of the virus easing the pressure on health systems and saving lives, but we opened up too early.
This Public Inquiry has been set up both in Scotland and at UK level so that we can obtain answers and try to avoid the mistakes that occurred during the pandemic, but it must do much more than that, it must expose those in power who made decisions with a blatant disregard for the lives and welfare of its citizens.
It must expose those who made sure they and others connected with them financially benefited during the pandemic, accountability must mean just that, they are held accountable, the insincere apologies in front of a TV camera or microphone before moving on to their next highly paid position are not sufficient.
I hope that this UK Inquiry serves to fully uncover the true extent of the deadly incompetence and at times corruption of the UK Government and when it does, appropriate actions are taken, the government rhetoric through all of this was that they did their best, their best was not good enough and it caused thousands of unnecessary deaths.
Dr Alan Wightman
I lost my Mum, Helen, in May 2020 to Covid acquired in her Care Home in Fife. I joined the UK group shortly thereafter. Since March 2021 I have been Chair of the autonomous Scottish group who engaged with the Scottish Government to define the scope of the Scottish Covid Inquiry.
My expectations for the UK Inquiry are that we will support Lady Hallett to establish a true and accurate narrative of the events that happened during the course of the coronavirus pandemic that led to such a catastrophic and avoidable loss of life, that those responsible for decision making will be held to account, and that recommendations will be made to make the preparations for future pandemics much more robust and fully implemented.
The Scottish Bereaved Families group met with the UK Chair Lady Hallett in March 2022 in Edinburgh. We gained CP Status in our own right in the UK Inquiry are looking for the truth, because without the truth there can be no justice.
Background on the bereaved relatives:-
PETER MCMAHON – Peter’s wife Deborah died on 18th October 2020. Deborah had a kidney removed due to cancer, the cancer was resolved and she had no further treatment. They do not know how Debbie contracted Covid, Monday 21st Sept 2020 Peter and his daughter got Covid, Debbie was took ill on the Tuesday and went into hospital and tested positive for Covid that day. Debbie was then discharged home but taken back into hospital after her oxygen was low, she was in the HDU and then transferred to ICU on 28th and put on a ventilator. 15th October Debbie took a downturn in reaction to the hospital treatment. On the 17th October they spoke about DNR and Peter visited with his daughter. Debbie passed away on the 18th of October.
DR ALAN WIGHTMAN – Alan’s mother Helen Wightman died on 6th May 2020. He first knew something was wrong on the 20th of April when his brother got a call from a Doctor that should have gone to his mother’s care home, the call was regarding a resident that was listless and unresponsive. The care home told Alan that there was no untested patients discharged into the care home from hospital, that may be true for when his mother died but there is a suggestion six people were discharged into the care home from hospital.
