Sixteen people severely affected by the Manchester Arena bombing have been awarded a total of just under £20 million in damages, a senior judge has approved. The settlements mark a significant step in the long legal process for survivors and families following the 2017 terrorist attack.
Details of the settlements and catastrophic injuries
The largest individual payout, amounting to nearly £11.4 million, was awarded to a teenager who suffered catastrophic injuries in the blast. Another teenager, who sustained severe and life-changing wounds, received an award exceeding £5.2 million. The claims were brought on behalf of children and individuals deemed to lack the mental capacity to manage their own legal proceedings.
All claimants in these first 16 cases have been granted anonymity by the court. Following this initial group, a further 352 claims are scheduled to be resolved, with the details of those settlements expected to remain confidential.
Organisations held accountable for security failings
The damages will be paid by several organisations found responsible for security lapses on the night of the attack. These include Greater Manchester Police, British Transport Police, the arena's operators (then SMG, now Legends Global Services Limited), and security provider Showsec. The exact contribution from each defendant remains private.
The civil claims followed the findings of a public inquiry led by Sir John Saunders. His report concluded there were "serious shortcomings in the security" provided by the responsible organisations, alongside failings by specific individuals.
A moment for apology and a pledge for change
At a hearing at Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre, legal representatives for both claimants and defendants issued a joint statement. It confirmed that each organisation had apologised to survivors and bereaved families and acknowledged their failures on 22 May 2017.
Simon Kilvington KC, representing most claimants, stated: "This is not a day of celebration. It is a moment to acknowledge the mistakes that were made and the unimaginable suffering our clients have endured over the past eight and a half years." He added that the settlement was reached due to the claimants' extraordinary strength and resilience.
Judge Nigel Bird, who oversaw the awards, noted the common link was the "single and unthinkable act of terrorism" that took 22 lives and affected countless others. He praised the dignity and determination of the claimants, stating their courage had helped secure promises of change to prevent future tragedies.
The joint statement from all parties concluded: "The organisations involved have acknowledged their failures, made changes, and pledged to prevent the same mistakes from happening again. This settlement is about recognition, accountability, and a shared commitment to doing better." The legal teams involved confirmed no further comment would be made beyond this statement.
