Derry councillors get Grenfell United presentation

The horrific Grenfell Tower fire has been recalled by the members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community committee.

Two members of Grenfell United invited to address the committee, revealed Ulster Rugby’s decision to continue its association with Kingspan had caused “further anguish” for the relatives of those who died.

Karim Mussilhy (vice chair) and Antonio Roncolato spoke movingly on Thursday about the devastation caused by the fire, which broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats, in North Kensington, West London, on June 14, 2017.

72 people perished in what has been described as the worst UK residential fire since World War II. 70 people were injured and 223 escaped.

The fire spread rapidly up the building’s exterior, accelerated by dangerously combustible aluminium composite cladding and external insulation, with an air gap between them, which enabled the stack effect.

Grenfell United is a group comprising the survivors and bereaved families from the fire, which came together “to demand justice and change in memory of 72 of our families and neighbours who died”. It is “fighting for everyone to be safe in their homes and justice for our loved ones”.

Karim and Antonio addressed councillors following a motion proposed by Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent), seconded by Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr (SDLP) and passed unanimously at the committee’s July meeting.

On that occasion, Council was also mandated to contact Ulster Rugby expressing dismay at the sporting body’s continued association with Kingspan, which provided some of the building materials used in Grenfell Tower. Council asked Ulster Rugby to “immediately reconsider their position”.

Speaking to Derry Now before the meeting Karim Mussilhy said Grenfell United had been trying to get Ulster Rugby to cut its ties with Kingspan for a while.

He added: “Kingspan manufactured an illegal product and targeted high-rise buildings and they killed our families. Their product was part of the reason why our families are dead, so that is what we are trying to tell people.

“We did the same thing with Formula One and Mercedes. We are asking Ulster Rugby, ‘Why do you want to be involved with a company, which is currently the subject of a criminal investigation being undertaken by the Metropolitan Police?’

“Grenfell United, which was set up immediately after the fire, represents the vast majority of all the survivor and bereaved families of Grenfell. 

“It is not just Kingspan, we are campaigning against pretty much all of the corporations that have been involved with Grenfell because they continue to behave the same way, they continue to make money and nobody has been held to account. We are trying to affect their pockets if you will because that is the only language they understand,” said Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle was in the Grenfell Fire.”

Closing his Council presentation, Karim Mussilhy said: “One of Kingspan’s main arguments is that only five percent of their products was used in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment. 

“By my calculations, that five percent contributed to four and a half deaths, that’s four adults and one child. That means Kingspan is okay with killing four adults and one child.”

Following the presentation to Council by Karim Mussilhy and Antonio Roncolato, Cllr Gary Donnelly expressed solidarity with the Grenfell United Campaign.

He added: “Having received the presentation, it just brings home the complete lack of empathy and the complete disregard for the victims and the survivors and the relatives. 

“The fact that these people falsified the safety credentials of their product is criminally damning. It is despicable and it is disgusting, the behaviour. There is absolutely no remorse.

“There was also a proposal from this committee, from Alderman Guy (UUP) regarding Cavan GAA and maybe Grenfell United would think of writing to Cavan GAA [which is also sponsored by Kingspan].

“I can’t see why organisations would want to be sponsored by people like Kingspan. To me it is blood money. In my opinion, there is no excuse for it,” said Cllr Donnelly.

Sinn Féin’s Cllr Aisling Hutton, said the trauma and the sadness being experienced by Grenfell survivors and families “must be tremendous”.

“You have created this voice for the people who have been affected by this disaster and you are to be commended,” said Cllr Hutton.

“As most of us know, when there is trauma involved in someone’s life, it is the support that comes in around them that really makes that wee bit easier.

“You are the voice of those people who are looking for those answers. I think the public Inquiry has given reports to the investigation and we will all be waiting with baited breath to see what comes out of that.

“For me it is just to acknowledge what you have experienced as family, as a community, has just been really, really terrible and I think, you have created that line of support for the families and I want to say, ‘thank you’ for that as well and wish you the best of luck,.”

Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP) commended the efforts of Grenfell United over the last number of years “to hold those who are responsible, for what was a huge tragedy, to account”.

“This was something which should never have occurred and it sent shockwaves all across these islands and all across the world and I think we can agree that this happened because it was decades of Tory austerity, profiteering and neglect of council housing by those who were in charge.

“I think the role of Kingspan in all of this has been apparent. It clearly didn’t care about the foam and insulation that was going into Grenfell and lied for years and years as the Inquiry was able to demonstrate.

“Since then, what it has done is, rather than attempting to take responsibility for their role, it has attempted to continue with the cover up and are using their deep, deep pockets to build up their profile by sponsoring organisations like Ulster Rugby.”