Attorney General for the Isle of Man Put on Notice of Judicial Review Over Summerland Inquest Refusal

Phoenix Law has today confirmed that the Attorney General for the Isle of Man has been formally put on notice of judicial review proceedings following his decision to refuse the direction of fresh inquests into the deaths arising from the 1973 Summerland fire disaster.

Acting on behalf of campaign group Justice for Summerland, Phoenix Law has issued Pre-Action Protocol correspondence ahead of lodging a Petition of Doleance (judicial review) challenging the Attorney General’s decision dated 15 May 2025. The challenge is grounded in multiple alleged misdirections in law and procedural irregularities.

The Summerland fire claimed 50 lives and remains one of the worst peacetime tragedies in the British Isles. The original inquests have long been criticised as being perfunctory, with findings that many families describe as bland, legally flawed, and deeply inadequate.

Phoenix Law’s letter before action contends that:

• The Attorney General applied the wrong legal test by adopting English and Welsh jurisprudence that does not apply in Manx law, thereby imposing an unlawfully high threshold for ordering fresh inquests.
• The Attorney General misinterpreted the meaning of ‘misadventure’ in coronial law, wrongly concluding it was appropriate for the Summerland victims.
• He failed to give proper consideration to the advancement of forensic science, the discrediting of key forensic evidence, and the wishes of the bereaved families—all relevant to the legal standard of “desirability” under Isle of Man law.
• The refusal contravenes the state’s obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the duty to investigate where new evidence arises.

If no response is received from the Attorney General by 5pm on 11 August 2025, Phoenix Law will issue judicial review proceedings in the High Court.

Our Mr Darragh Mackin and Harry Robinson act for the families.

A copy of the full pre action correspondence can be downloaded here:

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
📧 media@phoenix-law.org
📞 +44 (0)28 9024 3901
🌐 www.phoenix-law.org