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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Lyell Tweed

'Shame on you all': Devastated families of the Arena bombing victims speak out

"Shame on you all." Those were the stark words of one heartbroken mother as the third and final report into the Manchester Arena Bombing tragedy was released.

The families of three Manchester Arena bombing victims slammed the institutions and organisations cited in the inquiry into the atrocity which led to the deaths of 22 people on May 22, 2017. There was 'a significant missed opportunity to take action' on the part of MI5, the chairman found.

The families of those who lost loved ones in the atrocity read statements outside Manchester Magistrates' Court following the publication of volume three. They said lessons must be learned.

READ MORE: LIVE: Part three of Manchester Arena bomb report reveals 'missed opportunities'

One of two key pieces of intelligence about suicide bomber Salman Abedi - both of which weren't passed on to police by MI5 - 'gave rise to the real possibility of obtaining information that might have led to actions which prevented the attack', revealed the report.

Had investigations taken place, Abedi could have been stopped at Manchester Airport on his return to the UK from Libya just days before the bombing, or been followed to where the bomb was being kept.

Caroline Curry lost her son Liam Curry, 19, who was with his partner Chloe Rutherford, 17. She spoke outside court stood alongside Chloe's parents, Lisa and Mark Rutherford.

"Shame on you all." Caroline Curry, who lost her son Liam, speaking outside Manchester Magistrates as the final volume of the Arena Inquiry is released. (Manchester Evening News)

"All we as families have asked for from day one is the truth, acknowledgment of failures, and a determination to make sure that failures are fixed so that next time, because there will be a next time, but hopefully next time there won’t be as many families going through the utter heartbreak we have had to endure for the last five years, nine months, one week, and one day," she said as she broke down in tears

"We didn’t get that acknowledgement from anyone other than GMFRS until the chairman’s reports were published. Shame on you all.

"In this report chair has recognised that there was significant missed opportunity by MI5 which had they taken action could ultimately have changed the course of what happened that night he also identified lack of information sharing between the police and security services we hope lessons really will be learned this time.

The third and final volume of the Manchester Arena Bombing Inquiry was released today (March 2). (Manchester Evening News)

"We have sat through eight weeks at the Old Bailey and over two years here at the inquiry. We’ve heard countless statements listened to hours of evidence and we can only hope that one day the whole truth will come out and others including the fugitive brother and parents face justice because we will never believe they were in this alone.

"Forgiveness will never be an option for such evil intentions and those that played any part in the murder of our children will never ever get forgiveness from top to bottom, MI5 to the associates of the attackers. We will always believe that you all played a part in the murder of our children.

"We will spend the rest of our lives trying to protect our boys because as we found out through this process once you leave the safety of your home you are on your own so many people being paid that night to protect our kids and yet so many failed in their duties professionals that had responsibility but clearly had other priorities. Security staff that even when told of the danger failed to act appropriately.

"Once again, we’ll never forgive you. Nothing can bring Liam and Chloe back. Nothing."

Figen Murray, mother of victim Martyn Hett, also made a statement outside Manchester Magistrates (Getty Images)

Ms Curry added that the charity they have set up in their names will continue to go strong and they will continue to campaign for changes in the law regarding registering of deaths. She added: "But we won’t let them be forgotten, we have set up charities in their names to give a lasting legacy to show that from absolute heartbreak something positive can rise we will continue to campaign to be allowed to register the person’s personal detail on their death certificates and we won’t rest until all those who played a role in their deaths are brought to justice."

They also thanked all the lawyers involved in their proceedings.

Figen Murray lost her son Martyn Hett, 29. She has since been campaigning for 'Martyn's Law' for better security at events. She said: "Today’s not the day for looking back, today is about moving forward and for everyone concerned to learn from their mistake and take heed of the recommendations. Terrorism continues to plague our society and as a nation we need to be better prepared to deal with it. It always seems a step or two ahead of us, we need to catch up fast.

"All three volumes post to an abundance of mistakes and failures by a raft of different organisations, services and people, we need more cohesion and more communication between our services. We need a more efficient system in place to ensure the different pieces of the jigsaw come together.

"We are not here to point fingers, the bottom line is everyone who made mistakes, every service that was lacking on the night, every organisation who missed something in the lead up to the attack is now aware of their failings this brings about the opportunity to make those necessary changes and improvements to avoid another atrocity.

"To fail doing so again will prove to be another catastrophic mistake. Over recent years I’ve been working with the security industry, the police, and counter terrorism, from this work I have seen that like the emergency services these organisations are now beginning to work in unison to make the crucial improvements on the previous recommendations made by Sir John Saunders.

"Now that the inquiry has reached its conclusion I will continue to work with the government on Martyn’s law, I alongside my husband Stuart will continue to work with survivors against terror to ensure a victim’s charter to support future victims of terrorism this is where our focus will now be."

For more of today's top stories click here.

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