The Chairman of the Manchester Arena Inquiry has made a ruling on the Inquiry’s hearing arrangements in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and following the preliminary hearing on 14 January.

Hearings will resume on 18 January with some changes to the format. These arrangements will be kept under review and the future course of the Inquiry will be considered in a preliminary hearing on 16 February.

The Chairman’s full ruling, outlining the current arrangements, is available here.

In light of this week’s announcements on further lockdowns and restrictions Sir John Saunders, Chairman of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, has had to consider the impact on the Inquiry’s oral hearings.

He has decided to pause the hearings until 18 January to give the Inquiry time to consider its options which could include the use of virtual hearings and very restricted attendance in person hearings.

The Manchester Arena Inquiry has completed Chapter 8 evidence and concluded oral evidence hearings for the year 2020.

The Inquiry will resume on 12 January 2021 to hear Chapter 9 evidence, related to the experience of survivors. This phase of evidence is expected to last approximately one week.

Chapter 8 hearings started on Monday 7 December. This chapter will consider evidence related to planning and preparation for the attack and will conclude on Wednesday 16th December.

The timetable for evidence to be heard between the 14th-16th December is available here.

Evidence on the morning of Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th December will not be broadcast on YouTube as restriction orders are in place which prevent the publication of certain details.

All remaining evidence will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel which will be operating on a 10-minute delay.

Inquiry hearings continue on Monday 7 December at 9:30 with Chapter 8 evidence, related to planning and preparation for the attack.

This phase of evidence is scheduled to last for two weeks.

Unless marked as restricted on the schedule, hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel. The stream will be operating on a 10-minute delay.

Inquiry hearings resume on Monday 30 November with the conclusion of Chapter 7 evidence on the Manchester Arena Complex and security arrangements.

A schedule for the week’s hearings is available here.

The Inquiry will continue to operate in-person hearings during the national lockdown in England which began on 5 November. The Chairman opened Monday’s hearings with a clear message that, as the inquiry is about learning lessons for national security and safety, he was keen to maintain progress providing it was safe to do so.

The Inquiry is now in its ninth week of hearings and the team has taken steps to ensure that this important legal process can continue to run in a safe environment, minimising risk wherever possible and implementing public health measures.

We continue to operate in Covid-secure venues, with limited attendance, and have robust procedures in place to minimise risks as far as possible to the families, core participants, staff, media and all those who attend our hearings.

Attendance has been limited to essential personnel from the outset.  The Inquiry continues to make use of live streaming and video technology to ensure that those choosing not to attend can follow proceedings remotely. Public wishing to follow the proceedings can do so via Youtube.

Inquiry hearings resume on Monday 26 October at 09:30 with Chapter 7: Evidence related to the Manchester Arena complex and security arrangements. This phase of evidence is scheduled to last until mid-November.

A schedule for the week’s hearings is available here.

Hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel. The stream will be operating on a 10-minute delay.

The Manchester Arena Inquiry will adjourn the hearing tomorrow as a precaution following three confirmed and three suspected cases of Covid-19 connected to staff working at the Manchester Magistrates Court in the past seven days. The cases are not directly connected to the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

It is hoped the hearings will resume on Monday, subject to advice that it is safe to continue. The safety of everyone attending the Manchester Arena Inquiry is our priority.

Chapter 7 hearings started on Monday 5 October. This chapter will consider evidence related to the Manchester Arena complex and security arrangements.

This phase of evidence is scheduled to last until mid-November.

Hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel. The stream will be operating on a 10 minute delay.

Inquiry hearings continue on Monday 5 October at 09:30 with Chapter 7: Evidence related to the Manchester Arena complex and security arrangements. This phase of evidence is scheduled to last until mid-November.

A schedule for next week’s hearings is available here.

Unless marked as restricted on the schedule, hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel. The stream will be operating on a 10-minute delay.

The Inquiry hearings continue on Thursday 1 October at 09:30 with Chapter 6: Overview Evidence, which will set out the chronology of important events. A preliminary hearing dealing with protocol and legal matters related to the Inquiry main hearings will follow.

These hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry YouTube channel. The stream will be operating on a 5-10 minute delay.