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Jail profiteers responsible for Grenfell, bereaved say ahead of final report

JAIL the profiteers responsible for Grenfell Tower, bereaved survivors said ahead of the final report into deadly blaze seven years ago.

The long-running inquiry will publish its findings on how the west London tower block came to be in a condition which allowed the flames to quickly claim the lives of 72 people on Wednesday.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick is set to expose any failings by corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and the government.

But the bereaved and survivors face an “unbearable” wait which could stretch to a decade before any criminal charges are brought.

The Met Police says it needs until the end of 2025 to finalise its mammoth investigation into the fire, with a further year for prosecutors to haul culprits into court.

Sandra Ruiz, whose 12-year-old niece Jessica Urbano Ramirez died in the fire, said: “For me, there’s no justice without people going behind bars.

“People who have made decisions putting profit above people’s safety need to be behind bars.

“Our lives were shattered on that night, people need to be held accountable.

“They know what part they played. The inquiry knows what part they played. And the police know what part they played. Now they just need to take some action about it.

“Let’s not drag this out another seven years.”

Ms Ruiz added the final report must be a “landmark report” which prompts “cultural, institutional and legislative change,” as “we’ve seen all too often” how people have “completely sidestepped their areas of responsibility.

“Those ethics have gone by the wayside in favour of profits, and this is what we see as a result.”

Former tower resident and Grenfell United member Edward Daffarn said he hopes it will “highlight the institutionalised indifference that saw private companies put profit before people.”

The safety campaigner, who famously predicted the fire in a blog post just months before it happened, hoped those like him who were painted as “rebel residents” for challenging the relevant local authorities will be vindicated in the report.

He also hoped it will “fully expose” the actions of the government and private companies and that “the buck-passing that took place during the public inquiry, where none of the corporate core participants took any responsibility for their actions, is going to come to an end.”

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