The Southport Inquiry

On 29 July 2024, three very young girls were murdered and 10 others were seriously injured in a brutal attack. On 23 January 2025, the perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years before he can be considered for parole.
 
On 7 April 2025, a statutory inquiry known as the Southport Inquiry was set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack and the events leading up to it. The Inquiry was tasked with examining an overall timeline of the perpetrator’s history and interactions with various public bodies including criminal justice, education, social care, and healthcare, as well as decision-making and information-sharing by local services and agencies. Chaired by Sir Adrian Fulford (the former Vice-President of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division and a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple) it began its first phase of hearings in September 2025. That first phase focused on how the attack was able to happen and concluded last November. A second phase will consider the best means of ensuring that such an attack does not happen again.
 
In this session Tim Moloney KC will examine the evidence thus far heard by the Inquiry; the issues which emerged during its hearings; and, the findings and recommendations of the report of the first phase. 

Student members (including transferring lawyers) must attend all elements of the event in order to be awarded the Qualifying Session. This includes any lecture/talk/reception/dinner/speeches.