The husband of Manchester terror attack victim Alison Howe has branded the public inquiry into the atrocity a 'complete waste of time and money'. Steve Howe criticised emergency services bosses for not 'holding their hands up' and admitting that mistakes were made on the night.
Mrs Howe, a 45-year-old mum of two and step-mum of four, from Royton, Oldham, was one of 22 people who were killed on May 22, 2017. Today (Thursday) a damning report uncovered serious failings by the emergency services on the night of the attack and pointed to the role played by six key commanders who oversaw the debacle.
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It found one of the 22 victims could have been saved if not for the 'inadequate' response of police, paramedics and fire crews. In a brutal assessment of how dying victims were treated, inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said John Atkinson, 28, could have survived if he received better treatment.
There was also a 'remote possibility' the youngest victim, Saffie-Rose Roussos, eight, would have survived, the report concluded.
Mr Howe told Granada Reports : "It has been a complete waste of time and money in my opinion. The people who were in charge that night there's no reason why, if they'd have held their hands up within weeks and said 'We made loads of mistakes' and we hadn't had to do this to bring them to account, I think we would have felt better.
"But after six years I feel worse than the day after it happened."
In a tribute to his wife, Stephen said Alison worked in the nursing profession - and revealed how they first got together.
They mixed in the same circle of friends, he said, but one night Stephen had an accident and ended up in hospital, with Alison looking after him.
"When I regained consciousness, I think I told her I loved her and one day we'd be married," he told the Arena inquiry in 2020
Stephen said Alison 'became mum to all the kids' and 'couldn't have done a better job'.
"We have carried on with her rules and regulations," he said in his statement.
"The children have soldiered through everything, and between us we've carried on without her, even though she'll be forever in our hearts and minds."
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