An inquest into the death of a nine-year-old girl who died after suffering an asthma attack will consider whether her right to life was breached by illegal levels of air pollution.
After the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah in London in 2013, a Pre-Inquest Review (PIR) by assistant coroner Philip Barlow made a provisional ruling that he will sit without a jury and that Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights (Right to Life) is engaged.
The Coroner stated that this was subject to any submissions from government environment department Defra and the Department for Transport.
He requested submissions from the Government Legal Department as to whether the Department of Health or any other government department should be listed as interested parties.
Earlier this year the High Court quashed the original inquest into her death and a new one was ordered after new evidence came to light that London’s unlawful levels of air pollution may have contributed to her death.
Jocelyn Cockburn of solicitors Hodge Jones & Allen, who is representing Ella’s mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, said: ‘There is very significant public interest in Ella’s inquest and I am pleased that the coroner is minded to hold an Article 2 inquest.
‘Air pollution is a human rights issue and the Coroner’s ruling recognises that the British public have a right to life in terms of air pollution and that there are arguable grounds for suggesting that this was breached in Ella’s case.’
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah said: ‘Every hearing is stressful, but I am glad we have made some progress today. Each hearing moves me a little bit closer to a better understanding of what happened to Ella and the role pollution may have played in her death.’
According to Hodge Jones & Allen, a second PIR is planned for April and a third for September. A date for the inquest has yet to be set but is likely to be in November or December 2020, the firm said.
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