Rudakubana's brother denied full inquiry access

Sir Adrian Fulford ruled Dion Rudakubana would have restricted access to sensitive inquiry material

The brother of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana will be blocked from accessing sensitive evidence about the victims of the attack after their families expressed "grave concerns" to a public inquiry.

Dion Rudakubana has been listed as a core participant in the Southport Inquiry, who are usually legally represented and are able to ask questions of witnesses.

Core participants - those deemed to have a "significant interest" in proceedings - are usually entitled to be given all the evidence.

Chairman of the inquiry Sir Adrian Fulford, said he was "unreservedly persuaded" that allowing the killer's brother full access would act as a "major obstacle" for the families of the victims.

But he stated this should not infer any criticism of Mr Rudakubana.

• Four families whose children were injured in the Southport attack last year are giving evidence to the public inquiry

The two-phase inquiry is taking place at Liverpool Town Hall.

It is examining events surrounding the murders of Alice Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and six-year-old Bebe King, as well as the attempted murders of eight other children and two adults.

Some of the families and one adult victim had expressed concern about Dion Rudakubana being able to listen to impact statements about the effects of 29 July 2024 - and commemorative pen portraits about the children involved.

In a ruling published by the inquiry, Sir Adrian, a retired senior judge, wrote: "These anxieties have been expressed in the strongest terms."

Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Aguiar and were murdered in the attack on 29 July 2024

He said the victims and families were concerned about Mr Rudakubana being able to learn their identities and "highly sensitive and distressing information about the injuries sustained and medical treatment".

Sir Adrian said that while it was usual that core participants had full access to all the evidence disclosed and were able to attend all parts of the hearing, he had "broad discretion" as chairman of the inquiry.

He also stressed that his decision should not be taken as any criticism of Dion Rudakubana and added that no "adverse inference" should be drawn.

"The basis of this ruling is the wholly understandable impacts on the victims and their families, all of whom are traumatised, of a member of [Rudakubana's] family having access to sensitive materials concerning the detail of the attack and its impact on the victims," he said.

He ruled that Dion Rudakubana would not have access to any advanced disclosure of evidence from after the time his brother got into the taxi that took him to the scene of the attack in Southport's Hart Street.

He will also not be served with the victim impact statements or pen portraits of the children attacked, and will not be permitted to attend the inquiry or listen over a video link to those parts of the proceedings.