Southport inquiry: Brother of Axel Rudakubana barred from attending part of inquiry

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's brother has been barred from attending part of the inquiry after relatives of victims expressed concerns regarding his presence.

Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January after he was found to have murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party last year. He pleaded guilty to the murders and attempted murder of 10 others, alongside a series of other crimes and an inquiry into the events of July 29, 2024 began on Tuesday.

His brother, Dion, has been listed as a core participant of the proceedings, but his presence has raised concerns.

READ MORE: Southport inquiry UPDATES: Families of children injured by Axel Rudakubana set to speak

A decision notice from inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford posted on the inquiry website explains family members had expressed "considerable concerns" over Rudakubana's brother's involvement.

He said: "A number of the parents of the child victims and at least one of the adult victims have expressed considerable concern over the possibility that DR will be able to listen, either by being in court or via a live link, to the impact statements and commemorative portraits as delivered by members of the families.

"In a similar vein, there is a significant Southport Inquiry concern at the possibility of DR being provided with disclosure of any of the highly sensitive materials relating to the narrative of the attack, its effect on the victims and their families and the evidence concerning the events that occurred thereafter."

Adding anxieties about Rudakubana's involvement were expressed "in the strongest terms", he added that he was "unreservedly persuaded" this would "create a mahor obstacle to the participation of many of the victims".

For this reason, he has restricted the information that Dion Rudakubana and his legal team could receive thanks to his status as a core participant. They will not receive disclosure of any material covering the narrative of what occurred from the moment Rudakubana entered the taxi on his way to carry the attack, or any materials concerning the aftermath.

The aftermath, in this case, includes the injuries inflicted by Rudakubana or the responses by other people who arrived at the scene of the killings.

Dion Rudakubana or his legal team cannot attend any part of the portraits when the inquiry hears impact evidence and commemorative portraits, either in person or via a live link. They will also no receive advanced disclosure of impact evidence or commemorative portraits.

Sir Adrian said: "Anxieties have been expressed in the strongest terms, and I am unreservedly persuaded that it would create a major obstacle to the participation of many of the victims and the families of the victims in the Inquiry if they apprehended that the brother of the perpetrator was watching, either by being in court or via a live link, to the delivery of the impact evidence and the commemorative portraits.

"As an additional and persuasive factor, concern has been expressed that DR, by having access to this material, may come to learn at least some of their identities and highly sensitive and distressing information about the injuries sustained and medical treatment."

Dion Rudakubana will still be able to participate in the inquiry, but only when it covers "all the matters that properly concern him".