The 'Southport Inquiry Part 1' report is published

PHASE 1 of the Independent Statutory Inquiry, chaired by:- Sir Adrian Fulford, looked into the events leading up to the 2024 Southport attack and has found that the attack on innocent children attending a dance class in Southport:- 'could and should' have been stopped if the killer's parents and state agencies had acted sooner.

The attack on:- 29 July 2024 resulted in the deaths of 3 young girls:- Bebe King, aged 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged 9.

The Inquiry began on:- 8 September 2025 and lasted 9 weeks. The Inquiry has involved a rigorous and fair scrutiny of the years, months and days leading up to the attack. We have looked closely at the decisions made by a range of agencies that included:- across education, health, social care, policing, youth justice and many more.

During Phase 1 of the Southport Inquiry, evidence from over 100 witnesses was heard, of whom 67 gave live evidence to the Inquiry. The Inquiry received 25 impact statements and commemorative portraits. The Inquiry has involved a rigorous and fair scrutiny of the years, months and days leading up to the attack. We have looked closely at the decisions made by a range of agencies, across:- education, health, social care, policing, youth justice and more.

While many witness statements are contained within the 776 pages of the published report, specific impact statements from the families of the 3 girls are summarised below:-

Family of Bebe King - Described Bebe as a:- "joyful and caring" child. Their statement highlighted the:- "unbearable void" left in their lives and questioned why the warning signs regarding the perpetrator were not acted upon by those in authority.
Family of Elsie Dot Stancombe - Shared that Elsie was:- "the light of their lives" and a devoted sister. Their evidence focused on the need for accountability and ensuring that no other family has to endure such a preventable tragedy.
Family of Alice da Silva Aguiar - Remembered Alice as a:- "beautiful soul" who loved to dance. They expressed their:- "profound disappointment" in the systemic failures that allowed a known high risk individual to remain in the community without adequate supervision.

The Southport Inquiry on:- 13 April 2026, provided insights into the failings that allowed a young man with a previous history of violence to commit this horrendous attack.

The report published on:- 13 April 2026 has 776 pages which describe a:- "systemic failure of the state," and a:- "catastrophic" breakdown in communication between multiple agencies...

There was a fundamental failure by any single organisation to take ownership of the risk posed by the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana.
Information management and sharing between agencies was found to be poor, with critical risk details being lost or diluted over time.
The perpetrator's autism was frequently used by professionals as an explanation or excuse for his violent conduct, meaning the actual threat he posed was underestimated and unmanaged.
Agencies showed only a:- "glancing interest" in the killer's online activities, despite him researching terror attacks and School shootings.
There was a specific missed opportunity in March 2022 when the perpetrator was found on a bus with a knife and admitted wanting to stab someone; he was not arrested, and his home was not searched.
The perpetrator's parents were found to have created significant obstructions to constructive engagement and failed to report escalating concerns to the authorities.

On 13 April 2026, Sir Adrian Fulford delivered a statement at Liverpool Town Hall to mark the publication of the Phase 1 report. In his address, he set out the gravity of the findings and addressed the families of:- Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar directly.

Sir Adrian ended his statement, closing Part 1 of the Southport Inquiry, by saying:- "We cannot undo the past, but we must ensure that the state never again fails its most vulnerable citizens in such a comprehensive and devastating manner."

Key elements of his statement included:-

Recognition of the Victims - Sir Adrian began by paying tribute to the 3 girls and the 10 others who were injured, stating that the:- "unimaginable suffering" of the families had been at the forefront of the Inquiry's work.
The "Systemic Failure" - He stated that the attack was:- "not a random, unforeseeable event," but was the culmination of a:- "systemic failure of the state" spanning several years.
Accountability of Agencies - He remarked that multiple agencies had:- "sufficient information" to identify the perpetrator as a high risk individual, but a:- "catastrophic breakdown in communication" meant that no one took responsibility for the danger he posed.
The March 2022 Opportunity - Sir Adrian specifically highlighted the 2022 incident involving a knife, describing the failure to arrest the perpetrator or search his home at that time as a:- "pivotal missed opportunity" that:- "could and should" have changed the course of events.
The Role of the Parents - He noted that while state agencies failed, the parents of the perpetrator also:- "repeatedly obstructed" the efforts of those trying to provide support and failed to disclose the full extent of their son's:- "disturbing fixations."
Commitment to Change - He concluded by promising that Phase 2 would be:- "unflinching" in its examination of how young people with violent obsessions are monitored in the UK, ensuring that the:- "776 pages of failures" documented in Phase 1 lead to:- "meaningful, national change."

The inquiry will now move into:- Phase 2. The findings of:- Phase 1 will now shape the focus of:- Phase 2 of the inquiry. Phase 2 will specifically examine the broader risks posed by young people who develop fixations or obsessions with acts of extreme violence. Phase 2 is expected to start later on this year (2026.)

You can find out more about the findings published on:- 13 April 2026, by going to:- Southport.Public-Inquiry.UK.

The report published its on:- 13 April 2026, at:- Liverpool Town Hall online now. Also see:- .Gov.UK.

The Southport Hesketh Round Table Go Fund Me page is still taking donations to help the Southport Families after the 29 July 2024 Attack. To help the families, please go to:- GoFndMe.Com.

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....

XFactor star Ray Quinn to headline A Grand Night Out For Queenscourt in Southport

RAY Quinn has signed up to headline:- 'A Grand Night Out for Queenscourt Hospice,' at The Grand, in Southport this summer.

The XFactor star will be among a glittering array of talented celebrity and local musicians and DJs who will present a packed night of entertainment across all 3 floors of The Grand, on Lord Street, from:- 7 pm on:- Friday, 24 July 2026.

Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group is hosting this special community event to support Queenscourt as our local Hospice faces serious financial challenges.

Everyone is invited, with �25 tickets raising money for an incredible cause now on sale:- 'A Grand Night Out For Queenscourt - The Grand.'

A Grand Night Out for Queenscourt is hosted by:- Claire Simmo, Kelly Bond and DJ Baz Todd, all local people with huge passion for their Home Town.

Headlining will be Ray Quinn, who wowed audiences across the UK runner up on:- 'XFactor' in 2006, finishing in 2nd place to winner Leona Lewis.

He starred as Anthony Murray in Brookside from:- 2000 to 2003; won the fourth series of:- 'Dancing on Ice in 2009' and was the winner of:- 'Get Your Act Together in 2015.'

Also performing are:-

Anthony Russell (X Factor)
Andrew Curphey (Britain�s Got Talent)
Bernie Flint (Opportunity Knocks)
Liverpool legend DJ Jon Jessop,

...and many more incredible acts still to be announced!

Every ticket helps support Queenscourt and ensures their vital services continue for those who need them most.

Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:- "We�re delighted to be able to announce Ray Quinn as our headline act for our very special night at The Grand to support Queenscourt Hospice. We�d like to thank our hosts Claire Simmo, Kelly Bond, Baz Todd and all our other performers who have joined us to create an unforgettable night in Southport that you won�t want to miss. Like everyone in our community, we�re devastated to see the financial challenges that our local Hospice is facing. They play such a vital role in the lives of so many families and we need them to be able to continue offering their compassionate care across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. It�s time for all of us to come together and do all we can to support Queenscourt when they need us. Come and join us on:- Friday, 24 July for a very special evening filled with live entertainment, music, and amazing community spirit. With DJs and performers across all 3 floors, the energy will be non-stop all night long. Dress to impress; bring your family and frieinds; party with a purpose; and part of something truly special for Queenscourt Hospice!"

Earlier this month, Queenscourt Hospice announced the devastating news that it may have to close in 18 months unless it can raise enough funds as it battles a �2 million deficit.

The Hospice is already reducing its in patient ward from:- 10 to 5 beds, as it continues to face financial uncertainty. More services could be lost soon.

Queenscourt has provided compassionate care for over:- 70,000 local families across:- Southport, Formby and West Lancashire since it opened its doors 35 years ago.

Queenscourt Hospice Fundraising Manager Liz Hartley said:- "We�re really looking forward to this grand fundraising night for Queenscourt Hospice. It promises to be a fantastic event across all 3 floors of The Grand in Southport. We�d love to see lots of people coming to enjoy an entertainment-packed evening, while helping us to raise funds to Keep Queenscourt In Service. We�re very grateful to Andrew Mikhail and Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group for their huge support for Queenscourt."

News reports located on this page = 2.

The 'Southport Inquiry Part 1' report is published

XFactor star Ray Quinn to headline A Grand Night Out For Queenscourt in Southport