Scrutiny of failings part of coroner’s task

When the hearing was launched in October last year it was the start of a process which was to last for very nearly six months and which dealt with an enormous amount of material.

The last witness gave evidence in March and that took the total appearing in the witness box at the Royal Courts of Justice to 309, but there were also almost 200 written statements from others which were read to the court.

Those who appeared before the coroner included survivors, police, fire and ambulance services, along with members of Britain’s security services.

More than 34,000 documents were generated from the inquest, with the process thought to be the biggest criminal investigation ever conducted by the Metropolitan Police.

It has been estimated that the cost of staging the hearing will be around £4.5m.

The inquests examined the circumstances of the deaths of 52 victims but there will be no hearing on the four bombers.