UK Public Inquiries

Summerland Fire Commission

Mr Justice Cantley

Est. Sep 1973 · Final report May 1974

Commission of inquiry into the fire at the Summerland leisure complex in Douglas, Isle of Man, on 2 August 1973 which killed 50 people and injured 80.

South Ockendon Hospital Inquiry

J. Hampden Inskip

Est. Jan 1973 · Closed May 1974

Committee of inquiry into ill-treatment and neglect of patients at South Ockendon Hospital, Essex, a long-stay hospital for mentally handicapped patients. Prompted by anonymous disclosure of ward reports recording injuries …

Lord Widgery

Est. Feb 1972 · Final report Apr 1972

Tribunal investigating the events of Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972 when British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a protest march in Derry, killing 14.

Whittingham Hospital Inquiry

Sir Robert Payne

Est. Jan 1971 · Closed Feb 1972

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment of patients, fraud and maladministration at Whittingham psychiatric hospital near Preston, Lancashire. Found systematic patient mistreatment and recommended the dismissal of a consultant …

Farleigh Hospital Inquiry

Est. Jan 1970 · Closed Jun 1971

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment and neglect of patients at Farleigh Hospital, Long Ashton, Somerset, a long-stay hospital for mentally handicapped patients. One of a series of post-Ely …

Hugh Griffiths QC

Est. May 1968 · Final report Nov 1968

Inquiry into the partial collapse of Ronan Point tower block in Canning Town on 16 May 1968 following a gas explosion which killed four people.

Geoffrey Howe QC

Est. Jul 1967 · Final report Mar 1969

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment of patients and other irregularities at Ely Hospital, Cardiff, a long-stay psychiatric hospital.

Aberfan Disaster Tribunal

Lord Justice Edmund-Davies

Est. Oct 1966 · Final report Aug 1967

Tribunal into the Aberfan disaster of 21 October 1966 in which a colliery spoil tip collapsed onto Pantglas Junior School and houses, killing 144 people including 116 children.

Lord Denning

Est. Jun 1963 · Final report Sep 1963

Inquiry by Lord Denning into the Profumo affair, examining whether the relationship between Secretary of State for War John Profumo and Christine Keeler posed a risk to national security.

Viscount Radcliffe

Est. Nov 1962 · Final report Apr 1963

Tribunal investigating the espionage case of John Vassall, an Admiralty civil servant who spied for the Soviet Union, and whether ministers or officials bore responsibility for security failures.

1957 Bank Rate Tribunal

Lord Justice Parker

Est. Nov 1957 · Closed Jan 1958

Statutory tribunal into allegations that advance information about the Bank Rate rise of 7 September 1957 was improperly disclosed to City financiers. Heard evidence through late 1957 and reported in …

Sir Andrew Clark QC

Est. Jun 1953 · Closed Jun 1954

Inquiry into civil service maladministration over the compulsory acquisition of 725 acres of farmland at Crichel Down, Dorset, originally taken for RAF bombing practice. Found a catalogue of dishonest and …

Sir George Lynskey

Est. Oct 1948 · Final report Jan 1949

Tribunal investigating corruption allegations involving government ministers and the Board of Trade, centred on junior trade minister John Belcher and businessman Sidney Stanley.