Inquests into the Plymouth Shootings conclude

22nd February 2023

3PB's specialist inquests barrister Susan Jones, pictured here, was sole counsel representing the Firearms Licensing Supervisor in the series of jury inquests into the deaths arising from the Plymouth/Keyham mass shootings in 2021. Susan was instructed by Gary Rubin at law firm Blackfords.

The inquests began on 17th January 2023, as was reported earlier, and combined - the inquests lasted 23 days over the course of six weeks and heard from over 60 witnesses.

The Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Ian Arrow, had the benefit of leading counsel to the inquest. The victims’ inquests involved 11 interested persons, 3 of whom were represented by Silks and junior barristers.

The inquests considered:

• The firearms licensing systems and culture within the Devon and Cornwall Firearms Licensing Unit
• The shotgun licence application
• Review of the shotgun licence following an incident of violence and Mr Davison's involvement in restorative justice
• Applicable legal framework for shotgun licences
• Home Office Guidance issued in 2016
• The British Medical Association's response to Home Office Guidance
• Further Home Office Guidance published in 2021 post-the-incident
• Further Home Office Guidance updated during the inquests

Given the issues of national importance on 21st February 2023, the inquests were discussed in Parliament and reported here.

The inquests have been widely reported in the national media including The Guardian, The Times, the BBC and Sky News.