A senior judge has approved nearly £20 million in damages for 16 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, paving the way for 352 additional claims to be finalized. The largest single award – almost £11.4 million – goes to a teenager with catastrophic injuries from the terrorist attack that killed 22 people.
Judge Nigel Bird approved the damages at Manchester's Civil Justice Centre on Thursday for claims involving children and those lacking mental capacity to pursue legal proceedings themselves. The settlement follows a global agreement reached on December 16 between claimants and four organizations responsible for security at the venue.
The settlement includes contributions from four defendants: Legends Global Services Limited (formerly SMG, the Arena operators), Showsec (security provider), British Transport Police, and Greater Manchester Police. Details of how much each organization will pay remain confidential.
The 2017 Attack
Salman Abedi detonated a suicide bomb at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, as fans were leaving an Ariana Grande concert. The blast killed 22 innocent people and left hundreds with life-changing injuries. Many continue to live with the physical and emotional impact.
A public inquiry led by Sir John Saunders between 2020 and 2023 found that chances to stop the attack had been missed. The inquiry concluded there were "serious shortcomings in the security provided by those organisations responsible, as well as failings and mistakes by some individuals."
Accountability and Apologies
The four organizations have apologized to bereaved families and survivors, acknowledging their failures that night. They have pledged to prevent similar mistakes from happening again.
Simon Kilvington KC, representing the majority of claimants, told the court: "This is not a day of celebration. It is a moment to acknowledge the mistakes that were made and the unimaginable suffering our clients have endured over the past eight and a half years." He added: "Their strength and resilience have been extraordinary, and without that, we would not have reached this settlement. We now expect all parties to honour their commitment to do what they can to prevent those same mistakes from happening again."
Judge Bird emphasized that while monetary compensation is the best the legal system can offer, it cannot truly capture the human cost. "The love and care a parent gives to an injured child is plainly beyond monetary value," he said.
Path Forward
The judge praised the claimants for their dignity in the face of terrible adversity. Their quiet determination, he noted, has brought about promises of change with the hope that future families will not need to endure similar suffering.
A joint statement from solicitors for both claimants and defendants described the settlement: "This settlement is about recognition, accountability, and a shared commitment to doing better." The statement added: "The courage and dignity shown by the families and survivors throughout this process has been extraordinary. You have been heard, and your voices have shaped the path forward."
The 352 remaining claims can now proceed to finalization following Thursday's court approval.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
