Today marks the sixth anniversary of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, at the Ariana Grande concert.
Fate dictated that today was also the day on which one of the appeals Farleys are conducting was listed on behalf of one of the bomb victims.
Partner Jonathan Bridge has acted for many victims of the bombing who have suffered serious psychiatric injuries as a result of their experiences. Today’s appeal related to a particularly brave man who had helped victims immediately after the bomb exploded.
Jonathan Bridge said –
“My client was a licenced seller of merchandise who was stood by the doors to the arena when the bomb went off. He felt the force of the explosion and was there when the first victims staggered out of the arena. He used his merchandise as tourniquets to stop the bleeding of victims.”
Our client was quoted in the press after the event. One of the articles recorded –
“The bang took my breathe away. The next minute I just saw total panic.”
Our client said he saw a man with horrific injuries to his arms and legs, which had been caused by shrapnel.
He said:
“I just tied a lot of t-shirts around him. I put one around his arm and two around his leg and shouted for a paramedic. There were so many children – little kiddies crying and running. There were people running in all directions – it was pandemonium, it was awful.”
For the last six years our client has suffered on a daily basis because of what happened that day. Acting on his client’s behalf, Jonathan obtained a report from a Consultant Psychiatrist who confirmed that he has suffered a psychiatric injury as a result of what he went through, which will be permanent.
Jonathan and his team submitted a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority some three years ago. The CICA initially refused the claim on various bases including the fact that our client was outside the arena when the bomb went off, that he was not a direct victim of the bombing and that he did not have a recognisable psychiatric injury. They also refused the claim on the basis that he was outside the two-year time limit for submitting claims of this nature.
The CICA was asked to review their decision and they maintained their denial. Whilst some points were conceded it was still contended that he was not a direct victim of the bombing. We argued on his behalf that he should be compensated as having taken an exceptional risk in helping the victims of the bombing.
Our client bravely stayed to help victims when he could have escaped the scene. With hindsight there was no risk to him as the suicide bomber had been acting alone. At the time, however, he believed there may have been a second bomb or that there may have been armed terrorists in the building. Despite this he stayed and helped victims.
We are pleased to report that his appeal was successful and the Tribunal accepted that he took an exceptional and justified risk helping the victims of the bombing.
Our client found the hearing difficult and upsetting but was delighted with the outcome. It is quite poignant to succeed in an appeal on the day we remember those who were not fortunate enough to escape the arena.
If you have suffered an accident as the innocent victim of a violent crime or attack, you may be eligible to claim compensation. For a free assessment of your claim call Farleys’ criminal injury compensation solicitors on 0845 287 0939 , contact us by email, or use the online chat below.