Children who were injured in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing are set to receive almost €23 million in compensation, following a ruling at the Manchester Civil Courts of Justice.
The court heard that 16 claimants, all of whom were under the age of 16 at the time of the attack, will receive individual payouts ranging from £2,770 to £11.4 million, equivalent to approximately €3,200 to €13.2 million. The total compensation package comes to just under £20 million (€23.2 million).
The attack took place on May 22, 2017, as fans were leaving an Ariana Grande concert at the AO Arena in Manchester. A suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device in the foyer area, killing 22 people and injuring more than 800 others. Around 14,000 people were in attendance at the concert, many of them children and teenagers.
ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack, which remains one of the deadliest terror incidents in modern British history.
Due to a court order, none of the 16 claimants or their families can be identified. The court was told that some of the children suffered catastrophic and life-changing physical injuries, while others continue to experience severe psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
The compensation will be paid by four organisations: SMG Europe Holdings, which managed the venue; crowd management firm Showsec International Ltd; Greater Manchester Police (GMP); and British Transport Police (BTP). Lawyers representing the claimants said all four bodies have apologised to the bereaved families and survivors and have acknowledged failings in security arrangements on the night of the attack.
In the aftermath of the bombing, Ariana Grande spoke openly about her devastation, writing on social media: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.” She later returned to the city to organise the One Love Manchester benefit concert, which raised millions for victims and their families and was attended by more than 50,000 people.
In a subsequent interview, Grande said the attack had “changed my life completely” and described the ongoing impact it had on her mental health, while continuing to centre her focus on the victims rather than herself.
@confactious Ariana Grander Rising Above Hate Manchesters Strength and Unity Illuminate the Way #arianagrande #ariana #jimmyfallon #sweetner #raindrops ♬ original sound - Confactious
The compensation ruling comes after years of civil litigation and follows a public inquiry which found that the attack was preventable, citing missed opportunities to intervene before the bombing took place.
For many of the children affected, the court acknowledged that the physical and emotional consequences of the attack will be lifelong, with the damages intended to provide long-term care, treatment and support well into adulthood.
