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Unable to continue working, he survived on his savings while covering the costs of rehabilitation and physiotherapy. After enduring years of repeated applications, medical evidence submissions, and assessments, he eventually received compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (Cica). Reflecting on his experience, he described the process as “dehumanising” and “humiliating,” adding that it left him feeling as though his claims were met with disbelief.
He highlighted that numerous survivors had abandoned their attempts to seek compensation due to the overwhelming trauma involved in the procedure. “If something happened tomorrow, people would still go through what I’ve come through,” he stated. “It shouldn’t be like that.” His solicitor, Terry Wilcox, known for his work on both the Manchester Arena and Hillsborough cases, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that not enough progress has been made. Wilcox spoke about how lawyers often had to take on roles beyond legal support, acting as social workers to help clients access counselling, rehabilitation, and benefits. “That should not be the role of the solicitor,” he said, warning that without substantial reforms, similar issues will continue to surface repeatedly.
Wilcox further criticized the significant delays within the compensation system, explaining that even relatively straightforward claims could drag on for years, leaving victims frustrated and feeling as though they were “banging your head against the brick wall.” Both Wilcox and Edwards drew attention to a troubling historical pattern visible in numerous high-profile incidents, including Aberfan, Hillsborough, the Post Office scandal, and the infected blood cases. Despite repeated assurances that lessons would be learned, victims continue to encounter ongoing struggles, often left to fight battles on their own.
In response, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson, responsible for overseeing Cica, affirmed the importance of providing victims not only with financial compensation but also with practical, emotional, and therapeutic support. The spokesperson emphasized the department’s efforts to communicate with claimants “sensitively and accurately” and noted that the taxpayer-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme distributed over £180 million last year to assist survivors of violent crime, including those affected by terror attacks. Additionally, a support hub has been created to assist victims and survivors of terrorism in submitting their applications.
Beth Butts, Independent Public Advocate, a position established following campaigns by families affected by Hillsborough, expressed concerns that too many bereaved relatives still find themselves forced to become campaigners, investigators, and experts simply to uncover the truth. She described the recurrence of these issues as “a stain on our society,” pointing to the lack of a proper system to track lessons learned from past tragedies. “The burden of seeking truth and justice should rest on the system,” Butts insisted. “It should never rest on those families.
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