Summerland fire inquest could 'heal wounds but open others'

Robert Wilson is part of a campaign group calling for the 1974 inquest verdict of misadventure to be overturned

A man from Jordanstown who escaped the Summerland fire disaster in 1973 has joined other survivors and relatives in renewing calls for a fresh inquest.

The deaths of all 50 people in the blaze at the large leisure complex in the Isle of Man were ruled as a misadventure.

Two of the victims were from Northern Ireland.

About 3,000 people were inside the venue in the island's capital, Douglas, when the fire started.

Like many people from Northern Ireland in the 1970s, Robert Wilson and his family were regular holidaymakers to the Isle of Man.

Then aged 16, he was treated for minor burns after escaping Summerland along with his parents and grandmother.

The fire took hold at the complex within a matter of minutes

Within seconds, the exit he had escaped through was completely ablaze.

Robert is part of a campaign group calling for the 1974 inquest verdict of misadventure to be overturned.

'Nothing further from the truth'

"Death by misadventure suggests that the people who perished in Summerland did so partly as a result of their own actions," he said.

"In some way they were responsible for what happened. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Justice for Summerland consists of survivors and families from across the UK and Isle of Man.

They had previously called for a public apology from the Manx government for the failings identified in the 1974 inquest.

In July 2023, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan offered an "apology for suffering caused by the wrongs of the past".

While this was broadly welcomed by those affected, many wish to see a change in the inquest verdicts.

Ruth McQuillan still lives with the physical and psychological scars she suffered at Summerland more than half a century ago

Last week, Justice for Summerland welcomed a Dublin jury's ruling that the 48 people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire in 1981 were unlawfully killed.

A number of Summerland survivors were from Northern Ireland.

One of them, Ruth McQuillan-Wilson from near Dromore, was just five when she suffered severe burns and needed reconstructive surgery to her legs.

'I have found my peace'

She said she still lives with the physical and psychological scars she suffered at Summerland more than half a century ago.

Last year, Ruth was among other survivors who participated in a memorial service on the Isle of Man to remember those who died.

Many people bought weekly tickets to the complex

She said she understands why some survivors and relatives want a fresh inquest.

"It will be right for some people but it won't be right for others," she said.

"It will heal some wounds but open other wounds."

When asked if she has found her peace with Summerland, she replied: "I've found my peace. Yes."

What happened at Summerland?

Warning: The following contains descriptions that some may find distressing

• The fire at the complex was sparked by three boys from Liverpool smoking in a disused kiosk

• It spread rapidly because of the flammable nature of the Galbestos cladding on part of the building.

• Designed to have a summer feel all year round, the front of the complex and part of the roof were covered in a transparent acrylic glass called Oroglas, which melted and dripped down on those below.

• Two years after its completion in 1971, the hi-tech venue was the scene of devastation - the blaze destroyed the complex within minutes.

• The victims came from across the UK and Isle of Man.

• Eleven of the dead were aged under 20.

• Five members of a single family from Essex were killed, including 10-year-old twin girls. Seventeen children lost one or both parents in the disaster. Eighty people were seriously injured.

The complex was completely gutted in the blaze

A public inquiry into the fire found there were "no villains" - just human beings who made mistakes.

The Manx government has been approached for comment.