22 Oct Racist Murders and Policing
Richard Adams and John Burke-Monerville to give evidence at the Undercover Policing Inquiry on Thursday 24 October.
Richard Adams’ two sons were attacked by a gang of racists when going home from playing table tennis at their youth club on February 21 1991. Rolan, 15, was murdered and Nathan, 14 was wounded. Racist attacks and harassment had risen horrifically in recent months in part because of the opening of the BNP Headquarters locally. Richard will give evidence about the attack, the pervasive racism intimidating the local area and the family’s campaigns against it. He will comment on the undercover policing of the campaign and query – had the police spent their time policing the racists and not the subjects of racist crime – might the police have prevented future racist attacks?
John Burke Monerville’s 19 year old son Trevor was diagnosed with long-term brain damage following his arrest by Stoke Newington Police officers on New Year’s Day 1987. Trevor was murdered in March 1994. The Metropolitan Police Service decided to spy on Mr Burke Monerville and the campaign to obtain justice and accountability for Trevor for almost a decade rather than assist him with his attempts to seek answers and redress. In 2013 and 2019 Mr Burke Monerville’s sons Joseph and David were also murdered. No one was brought to justice in connection with Trevor or Joseph’s murders. Mr Burke Monerville will give evidence about the harassment Trevor and his family experienced at the hands of the Metropolitan Police during the campaign and his belief that the thread of racism runs through all of his dealings with them as a victim of crime, an unfortunately common experience of members of the Black community in London that continues to this day. John and Linda Burke Monerville and family appeal for anyone with information about what happened to Trevor on New Year’s Day 1987 or the murders of Trevor and Joseph to contact the family solicitor Paul Ham at Birnberg Peirce on 020 7911 0166 or p.ham@birnbergpeirce.co.uk
Richard will give evidence at 10 am on Thursday 24 October. Rajiv Menon KC’s opening speech on the family’s behalf was given on 14 October and can be read here or seen here commencing at 57:00.
John Burke-Monerville will give evidence at 2 pm that date, 24 October 2024. Quincy Whitaker’s opening speech on the family’s behalf was given on 14 October and can be read here.
It can be watched here commencing at 34:39.
The Inquiry is public and anyone can attend. It is taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre Juxon House London, EC4M 8BU (opposite St Paul’s Cathedral).
While the Inquiry prefer you to register it is not compulsory, you do need to bring ID with you. See details here: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/June-2024-hearings-protocol.pdf
NOTES
- Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors represent Richard, Audrey and Nathan Adams. DPG instructed Rajiv Menon KC and Una Morris. For further information contact Jane Deighton jdeighton@dgplaw.co.uk and Georgina Colegate-Stone gcstone@dpglaw.co.uk , or by phone on 0207 407 0007.
- Birnberg Peirce solicitors represent John and Linda Burke Monerville. Birnberg Peirce instructed Charlotte Kilroy KC and Quincy Whitaker. For further information contact Sarah McSherry s.mcsherry@birnbergpeirce.co.uk or Paul Ham p.ham@birnbergpeirce.co.uk.
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