A mother fights for justice after her son fell to his death during a Scout trip, with leaders attempting to shift blame onto him.
Ben fell from the Great Orme while exploring with two friends. They took a different path and ended up on a narrow ledge. He lost his footing and fell 200ft, suffering a serious head injury.
Before the trip, Ben had just learned he did well in his GCSEs. He was excited to study film-making at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. Unfortunately, he never got to pursue his dreams.
After a two-month inquest, a jury found that Ben was unlawfully killed. They determined that the senior Scout leader and an assistant leader were responsible. The Scout Association was also found to have neglected their duties.
Ben’s family faced more challenges after the inquest. The Scout leaders tried to overturn the inquest’s conclusion. They sought a judicial review of the findings, which was heard in December at the High Court in Manchester.
The Scout Association denied requesting the review. They claimed to have made significant changes to improve safety policies after the tragedy.
On January 30, the judge ruled that the coroner had directed the jury correctly. The appeal to review the inquest findings was rejected.
Ben’s mom, Jackie, expressed her frustration. She feels the Scout Association isn’t facing the facts about her son’s death. She believes the leaders still think they did nothing wrong.
Jackie shared that the past six and a half years have been painful. They have had to relive the tragedy in court, with people trying to blame Ben for what happened.
The inquest concluded that Ben was unlawfully killed. The jury found that the Scout leaders failed to provide proper supervision and instructions during the trip.
The coroner noted a lack of leadership and misleading actions by the Scout Association after Ben’s death. They were asked to investigate the association for possible conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Jackie continues to advocate for a public inquiry. She wants the Scouts to be regulated by an outside body to ensure children’s safety. She is not alone; she is joined by other families who have lost children during Scout trips.
The Scout Association stated that they did not seek the judicial review. They emphasized that the safety of children is their top priority and that they have made many changes to improve safety measures.
They plan to publish updates on their progress regarding safety policies. The association is committed to ensuring the well-being of the young people in their care.
