Harry Dunn death inquiry 'could start in November'

An independent inquiry into the death of motorcyclist Harry Dunn could be set up as early as November, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has told the teenager's family.

Mr Dunn, 19, was killed in August 2019 after US State Department employee Anne Sacoolas, hit him with her car while driving on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas, who had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf, left the country, but was later given a suspended jail term.

Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger said Mr Lammy had "expressed a strong commitment to addressing the failings we encountered within the political and diplomatic systems in London".

The Foreign Office has been approached by the BBC for comment.

Mr Dunn's death led the family on a three-year fight for justice, which included a meeting with former US president Donald Trump at the White House.

His mother, Charlotte Charles, said her family was a "victim" of the previous Conservative government's "terrible approach to working class people like us".

Sacoolas left the country 19 days after the crash and appeared by video link at the Old Bailey to plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.

She was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, and Mr Dunn's family said they were "horrified" that the US government was "actively interfering in our criminal justice system".

Speaking after the meeting on Tuesday, Mrs Charles said: "We are incredibly grateful to Mr Lammy for finding the time to meet with us this afternoon and for agreeing to set up this important inquiry.

"At long last we feel that we are being fully supported by our own government, having been so badly let down by the ministers and officials who were responsible for helping us when Harry died but who did the opposite."

Mr Seiger said the foreign secretary wanted the inquiry set up "sooner rather than later" and had indicated it could be set up "as early as November".

Mr Seiger claimed the Foreign Office was an "elitist institution that is simply not set up to help ordinary people", and that Mr Lammy had made it clear the inquiry would ensure "lessons are learned".

He continued: "It should not have taken the courage and tenacity of the family and the campaign team to right this wrong. That is what a government is for."

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