The Guardian – No justice for the Grenfell tragedy ‘until next decade’
The Guardian says justice for the 72 people killed in the Grenfell Tower fire may not come before the end of this decade, a former chief prosecutor has warned. “The upshot is that it now takes years for cases to come to trial after charge. Criminal cases arising out of Grenfell are likely to be many and complex. The Crown Prosecution Service is speaking of charging decisions in 2026.”
Justice for Grenfell deaths may not come this decade, warns former chief prosecutor
Justice for those responsible for the 72 deaths in the Grenfell Tower fire may not come until the end of this decade, a former chief prosecutor has warned, as survivors voiced growing fury over building firms’ “arrogant” refusal to admit wrongdoing.
The public inquiry findings of “systematic dishonesty” by multimillion-dollar building companies involved in the tower’s disastrous refurbishment prompted a clamour for accelerated criminal charges this week, seven years on from the blaze.
Offences being considered include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, and health and safety offences, police have said.
But on Thursday, the former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald warned that the creaking criminal justice system meant any criminal trials may not begin before 2029, meaning verdicts could be pushed into the next decade.
Michel Barnier vows to address feelings of ‘anger’ and ‘injustice’ as France’s new PM
Michel Barnier, France’s new rightwing prime minister, has vowed to address the nation’s feelings of anger, abandonment and injustice, promising a “new era” and a break with the past.
Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, took office hours after Emmanuel Macron appointed him to form “a unifying government in the service of the country” – an attempt to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election.
Barnier, who at 73 is the oldest premier in the history of modern France, said his first task was to “respond as best we can to the challenges, the anger, the feeling of abandonment and injustice that is too prevalent in our cities, on our estates and in the countryside”.
The government’s priority would be education, as well as security and controlling immigration, he said.
Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read
Editorial 06 September 2024.
Friday’s headlines reflect a variety of domestic and international news stories. Several of the papers continue coverage of the Grenfell inquiry report which was published on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, domestic politics is splashed across several papers. The tabloids feature showbiz and royal news – with many of the papers across the spectrum this morning featuring a picture of Prince William.