Landmark Ruling Today: Excessive levels of air pollution contributes to death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah
Today a coroner has concluded that exposure to excessive pollution contributed to Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s death. Air pollution exposure will be added to her death certificate.
At a press conference following the reading of the conclusions, Jocelyn Cockburn, leading civil liberties and human rights solicitor said:
“Air pollution is affecting all our children and families. The evidence during this two-week inquest has highlighted the need for Government to take urgent action. I expect pressure to build now on Government to adopt the World Health Organisation Guideline levels.”
Regarding the legal implications of these findings, Jocelyn went on:
“Air pollution has never been cited as a potential cause of death and, therefore never investigated in relation to the death of anyone in this country or, so far as I am aware, worldwide. Air pollution is affecting lives now – our children are being exposed and lives being blighted now. Joined up Government action must come from our Government to ensure lives are saved, not lost.”
The legal team representing Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah:
- Jocelyn Cockburn, Partner, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Solicitor
- Guy Mitchell, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Solicitor
- Megan Finnis, Paralegal
- Richard Hermer QC, Matrix Chambers
- Adam Straw, Doughty Street Chambers
- Ravi Mehta, Blackstone Chambers.
Record of Inquest https://www.innersouthlondoncoroner.org.uk/news/2020/nov/inquest-touching-the-death-of-ella-roberta-adoo-kissi-debrah