Firefighters who were injured in the 2017 Grenfell tragedy have reached a £20m High Court settlement.
The claims, brought by 114 firefighters, were for personal injury and loss caused by alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty when they attended the fire in the 24-storey building, which resulted in the death of 72 people. The public inquiry into the blaze is expected to report this year.
The defendants in the claim were the companies that made the combustible cladding and designed and built the refurbishment to the exterior of the building, Arconic Architectural Products, Celotex and Rydon Maintenance Limited, as well as the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Fire Commissioner.
Vincent Reynolds, of the personal injury team at Thompsons Solicitors, who represented the firefighters, said he hoped the settlement would bring ‘closure of a sort’ to the firefighters. He added: ‘The Grenfell Tower fire left an indelible mark on the firefighters who responded to the call. Many bear the psychological scars of that night, struggling with trauma from the harrowing experience.’
The firefighter settlement follows a High Court settlement last year for an undisclosed sum for around 900 claimants, including the bereaved, survivors and residents affected by the tragedy. They were represented by 14 firms.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: ‘The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy is a stark reminder of the systemic failings of building safety and government accountability. We demand that the government takes urgent action to ensure such a disaster never recurs, and that there is meaningful accountability for a tragedy born out of disregard for human life.’