Witnesses linked to Grenfell revamp want protection from prosecution, inquiry told

Witnesses involved in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment are applying to claim "privilege against self-incrimination"
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Key figures in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower may stay silent at the public inquiry into the disaster fearing their answers could be used in future prosecutions, it was revealed today.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said “many” witnesses due to give evidence had asked for an assurance from the Attorney General that their evidence could not be used against them in a criminal case.

Admitting the demand had taken him by surprise, he said that without such an assurance the witnesses were threatening to refuse to answer questions.

Sir Martin said the request had been made by Harley Facades, “certain employees and ex-employees of Rydon” and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation.

“I have been advised that when called to give evidence, many witnesses who were involved in the design and choice of materials are likely to claim privilege against self-incrimination as a reason for not answering questions,” he said.

“The rule of law protects a person from being required to answer questions if to do so truthfully might expose him or her to risk of prosecution.

“This has caused me a little surprise. There has hitherto been the fullest cooperation with the inquiry.”

He said lawyers for the private companies and the tenant management organisation “are asking me to apply to Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC for an undertaking that nothing said by witnesses will be used in furtherance of a prosecution against them, giving them complete freedom to tell the truth without concern for the future”.

Amid noise of discontent from the room, Sir Martin paused the inquiry for an hour to allow lawyers of the victims and families to explain the development.

He said the application will be aired openly tomorrow afternoon and he will then decide whether to ask the Attorney General for the assurance being sought.

Firms involved in the refurbishment of the tower block have been accused of a “merry-go-round of buck-passing” for refusing to accept blame for faults in the work that left the building covered in combustible cladding.

A total of 72 lives were lost as a result of the fire on June 14, 2017.

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