Police back New Cross fire inquest

Fire spread through the two-storey house in New Cross

Police are to recommend the re-opening of the inquest into the deaths of 14 black people in the New Cross Fire 20 years ago.

The families of those killed have spoken of their "great relief" at the decision.

More than 50 guests were at a party in New Cross, south east London, when a blaze, which started in the front room of the two-storey house, took hold.

The original inquest into the 1981 fire returned an open verdict.

The tragic loss of these families has not diminished over time

Det Chief Supt
Mike Parkes

And in 1985 the director of public prosecutions said the file on the deaths was being closed and there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone.

But a review of the initial four-and-a-half year investigation was ordered after the Stephen Lawrence case and the Metropolitan police racial and violent crime task force re-opened its inquiry into the case in 1997.

Biggest ever reward

In January, Scotland Yard put up its biggest ever reward - £50,000 - in a bid to discover who started the fire.

The first inquest was told the blaze began on the floor of the downstairs living room.

But Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Parkes, who is leading the investigation, said on Sunday: "The science of rebuilding how a fire starts has advanced to such a stage that we are now able to say that the fire started in the armchair underneath the window and probably at the back of the chair."

He added: "The tragic loss of these families has not diminished over time.

"When any person has died and the cause of their death remains a mystery we are obliged, for the sake of the victims' families and justice, to follow all lines of inquiry open to us."

Lewisham and Deptford MP, Joan Ruddock, said: "My hope was that enough new evidence could be produced, particularly new forensic evidence, to the coroner to reopen the inquest and set aside the open verdict.

Great relief

"That hope has been realised.

"The police are to recommend a reopened inquest and I will be supporting the families to ensure that that happens before another year passes."

New Cross Fire Parents Committee chairman George Francis said on Sunday: "It is a great relief for us because it has been going on for two decades and the answer we have today now means there is a new light at the end of the tunnel for us."

We cannot rest until we get the answer and until we can put our children to rest

George Francis
New Cross Fire Parents Committee chairman

Mr Francis 72, and his wife Velvetina, 75, from Kent House, south-east London, lost their 17-year-old son Gerry, a DJ at the party, in the fire.

He said: "We feel a little bit happier than we did 20 years ago."

But Mr Francis added: "We and the committee will never stop.

"We want an answer as to why our children died on that night.

"There are people out there who know the answer and we would like them to come forward and tell the police what happened because we are living our lives in limbo.

"We cannot rest until we get the answer and until we can put our children to rest."