The family of teenage crash victim Harry Dunn said they want the findings from an inquiry into how the Foreign Office (FO) handled the case to be made public. The inquiry will examine the FO's support to the Dunns after the 19-year-old's motorcycle was hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in 2019. Sacoolas left the country after the incident, with the US claiming she had diplomatic immunity from prosecution. Harry's mother, Charlotte Charles, said: "I won't accept anything less than a full, open and transparent process." The inquiry is expected to be announced on Thursday and will be chaired by former chief inspector of prisons Dame Anne Owers. Mrs Charles and other relatives were invited to meet with Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday for him to "hear the family's views". The invitation came after Radd Seiger, the family's spokesperson, highlighted there was no mention of the inquiry's report being published in the proposed terms of reference. Mr Seiger said the family will "have no part in any process that lacks transparency". Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf following the incident, before a senior Foreign Office official said the US government should "feel able" to put her on the next flight home. "It is not lost on us that the only reason we appear to have been called in [to meet Lammy] is because we asked for only one basic and reasonable assurance - that Anne Owers' report will be published," said Mr Seiger. "The fact that it has prompted such an urgent response gives us real concern that publication of the report may not have been the government's intention," he added. He said the family did not want to "get ahead" of themselves and would only support a transparent process. They have always been "grateful" for Lammy's support over the years, he said. "It must follow that Anne Owers' report, the first and only detailed look into those failures must be published. Without that, we cannot move forward. "We owe it to Harry, to our public institutions, and to every future family who might find themselves in a similar nightmare," he added. "After everything we've been through, the idea that the government might try to hide Anne Owers' report fills me with dread," Mrs Charles said. "We have never wanted anything more than the full truth and for lessons to be learned, not just for Harry, but to stop any other family from suffering like we have." In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "The foreign secretary has always made clear his commitment to support Harry Dunn's family and learn lessons from this tragedy. "It is right we brief the family first on any developments and will announce further details in due course." Follow Northamptonshire news onBBC Sounds,Facebook,InstagramandX.
Family of teenage crash victim Harry Dunn want inquiry report published
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"Dunn Family Calls for Transparency in Inquiry into Foreign Office's Handling of Case"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The family of Harry Dunn, a teenager who tragically died in a motorcycle accident in 2019, is urging for the publication of an inquiry report regarding the Foreign Office's handling of their case. Dunn's motorcycle was struck by a car driven by Anne Sacoolas, who was operating the vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Following the incident, Sacoolas left the UK, claiming diplomatic immunity, which has since become a contentious issue. Harry's mother, Charlotte Charles, emphasized the family's demand for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, insisting that they will not accept anything less than a complete disclosure of the inquiry's findings. The inquiry, which is expected to be chaired by Dame Anne Owers, aims to scrutinize the support provided to the Dunn family by the Foreign Office after the accident. Charles expressed her concerns about the lack of assurance regarding the publication of the inquiry's report, stating, "I won't accept anything less than a full, open and transparent process.", highlighting the family's desire for accountability and truth in the wake of their loss.
As the inquiry is set to be announced, family spokesperson Radd Seiger voiced apprehension over the government's intentions, noting that the terms of reference for the inquiry did not initially include a commitment to publish the report. He mentioned that the family's push for transparency has prompted a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, indicating the urgency of their request. Seiger stated that the family will not engage in any processes that lack transparency, reinforcing their commitment to uncovering the truth about the circumstances surrounding Harry's death. The Dunn family believes that the publication of the report is essential for closure and for preventing similar tragedies in the future. Charlotte Charles articulated the family's hope that the inquiry will lead to meaningful changes, asserting, "We owe it to Harry, to our public institutions, and to every future family who might find themselves in a similar nightmare." The Foreign Office has reiterated its commitment to support the Dunn family and to learn from this tragic incident, promising further communication regarding developments in the inquiry.
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