Media Advisory - 21 December 2010

Lawyers engaged to represent Pike River families at Royal Commission

The committee representing the families of the Pike River miners have engaged the Greymouth Law firm of Hannan Seddon to act for them during the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

Prominent Christchurch barrister Nic Davidson QC has been invited by Hannan Seddon to accept instruction to lead the team which will act on behalf of the miners and their families.

The Royal Commission is expected to begin its inquiry early in the New Year, and will concentrate its efforts on determining what happened to cause the disaster, the contributing reasons for it happening, who was involved and what measures need to be taken to ensure that this type of tragedy does not happen again.

Bernie Monk, the spokesperson for the Pike River Families Committee, said that the families strongly supported the need for their interests to be independently represented throughout the inquiry. "The families and the mining industry must learn the full truth about this event, however complex and difficult that might be."

Mr Monk said that it was also important that the Commission's entire hearing is held in Greymouth to ensure that the families are able to participate fully in and hear first-hand all of the evidence which will be put to the inquiry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media