INQUESTS into the deaths of the Manchester Arena bombing victims will be delayed until the summer pending a criminal investigation.
Barra schoolgirl Eilidh MacLeod, 14, was amongst the 22 people killed at the attack as concert-goers left a concert by US performer Ariana Grande in May. The youngest victim, Saffie Roussos, was just eight.
At a pre-inquest hearing yesterday, Coroner Nigel Meadows said the inquiry into their deaths would be adjourned until June after Greater Manchester Police confirmed it is seeking to extradite the bomber’s brother from Libya.
Hashem Abedi, brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, was arrested by the Rada Special Deterrence Force the day after the attack and the militia says it is “ready to cooperate” with UK authorities.
At the coroner’s court at Manchester Town Hall, Meadows said he had already written to families of the deceased about the delay.
He said that inquest proceedings must be paused pending a criminal trial, with this expected to take place if Hashem’s extradition goes ahead.
“It is obviously impossible for me to know when any final inquest hearing could possibly begin in all these circumstances.
“There’s a very great deal of work to be done before that could possibly begin.”
The Abedi siblings had travelled to Libya in April, with Salman returning to commit the mass-killing.
As many as 353 people were around him when he detonated an explosive device in the building’s foyer, including 175 children.
As well as those killed, 16 people suffered serious injuries including paralysis, loss of limbs, internal damage and facial trauma.
Those hurt include Eilidh’s best friend Laura MacIntyre, who sustained serious hand and leg injuries. The 15-year-old has now been able to return to school after months in hospital.
Greater Manchester Police issued a warrant for Hashem’s arrest in October.
He is wanted in connection with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion.
An pre-inquest hearing into Salman’s death, which had been scheduled for December 7, has also been adjourned.
Meadows said it was not possible or practical to go ahead under the circumstances.
While grieving families and survivors of the attacked continued their recoveries, the concert venue reopened in September with a benefit gig including Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Dates by John Legend and Duran Duran have since been staged and general manager James Allen told the Manchester Evening News tougher precautions are in place, saying: “There is a renewed confidence and reassurance amongst fans arising from our new security posture.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here