News Line is pleased to reproduce a heartbreaking and moving account of a single family’s call for justice and their support for the families of Grenfell which was delivered at the end of Justice4Grenfell’s second anniversary march to Downing Street on Saturday.
Kye Gbangbola began speaking by thanking Justice4Grenfell for inviting him and his wife, Nicole, to speak.
‘IT IS with Humility and Respect that Truth About Zane are here to remember those who died, the bereaved families, and survivors of Grenfell Tower.
‘And it is our honour to stand alongside Grenfell in solidarity in the fight for Justice. Two years on is just wrong, and for my beautiful boy five years on is disgrace upon disgrace.
‘Justice is for all not just the few.
‘In February 2014, unprecedented flooding swept through unregulated landfill site six yards behind Zane’s home in Surrey – land formerly used for tank testing and experimental
tipping.
‘The floodwater flowed beneath Zane’s Victorian home, which became infused with Hydrogen Cyanide a deadly odourless and invisible toxic gas that rose up silently through the floor boards.
‘The gas, Hydrogen Cyanide, was detected in Zane’s home by expert Fire Services HAZMAT. Seven-year-old Zane was killed.
‘This same gas, Hydrogen Cyanide, is said to be responsible for many deaths at Grenfell two years ago. It was also the chemical weapon used to kill people in WWII Death Camps.
‘Do you remember Salisbury just over a year ago? Well all the events that followed the actual poisoning in Salisbury, happened to us – the area evacuated for weeks, immediate presence of Porton Down the world leading chemical weapons agency who took over the area, emergency COBRA meetings (meetings on matters that are the highest level of national security), decontamination units, pop up hospital, chemical suits, Army Gold Command, etc.
‘Picture this. It is 3.00am and a mother; Nicole, finds her only child, seven-year-old Zane collapsed, she raises the alarm; calling emergency services, whilst trying to resuscitate Zane. In the meantime, unknown to anyone, I was also silently dying, and unconscious.
‘When I came round I was lying next to my dead son, who I had hugged and kissed goodnight just hours before.
‘Our son had just been killed. Our medical records, within minutes of Zane’s, death, contained multiple records of Hydrogen Cyanide.
‘We were unable to return home for over a year. No alternative housing was ever provided. Without a bed and homeless Nicole was left to sleep on the floor of the hospital for four months whilst I tried to recover from life changing injuries!
‘At a time when we were most vulnerable, instead of authorities running towards us to help, they ran towards us to attack.
‘When I got out of hospital I was paralysed and without a home, insurers confirmed the house we had once called home was not fit for purpose.
‘Two months of tests on the house revealed toxic migrating gases were entering it.
‘The independent report concluded there was a risk of death occurring again. We were broken, and still being beaten, but were still looking for truth.
‘The world is disgusted when chemical gases choke the lungs of little ones in Syria, quite right, but what about when Hydrogen Cyanide was found in Surrey!
‘Like Hillsborough, the truth was known on the day. For Zane the truth was known in minutes. The National Incident Record Book states the house had VERY HIGH LEVELS of HYDROGEN CYANIDE.
‘The Environment Agency built a property next door to us four years earlier; in 2010.
‘Before it was built they commissioned a large engineering firm to report on the secret landfill. The report stated there are migrating landfill gases, the risk is HIGH. The authorities responded by building their property with a gas-proof membrane that forms a barrier stopping the entry of dangerous migrating gases into their property.
‘The authorities had a duty to protect us, as we know they protected themselves. Zane’s death was preventable.
‘Zane’s inquest was marked by various areas of critical evidence being marginalised, plus witnesses not being called; we had five legal teams against us. Whilst we had to beg, borrow, and crowd fund £75K to pay for representation, right up to the day of Zane’s inquest, because legal aid was refused three times.
‘The other public authority QCs – some of the best in the country – used public money like water. Even the coroner hired a barrister at the public’s expense. Our situation was tantamount to multiple armed-to-the-teeth Goliaths against one unarmed David!
‘The Inquest for Zane generated widespread concerns, leading to immediate calls for an Independent Panel Inquiry from eminent people, MPs, legal experts and justice campaigners.
‘Without proper full and fearless investigation, or a jury, the coroner decided unilaterally that Zane was poisoned by carbon monoxide, a substance not detected.
‘I was two yards from Zane and unconscious in cardiac arrest, I am diagnosed paraplegic due to Hydrogen Cyanide poisoning.
‘Had Zane’s mum, also poisoned, not managed to raise the alarm, many could have died that night.
‘The Fire Brigade Union unanimously approved a motion of support for Zane’s campaign and its call for an Independent Panel Inquiry compelling full public authority disclosure, and proper full and fearless investigation, to restore to Zane the Human Rights he was stripped of by being denied an Article 2 inquest with no jury.
‘To be clear, no CO was ever found. Only Hydrogen Cyanide was detected.
‘The question I ask you is what kind of a country do we live in where there is no reported investigation into why there is the deadly nerve gas HCN; officially a WMD, in an area? Or where it came from?
‘The British Medical Journal says 80% of people in the UK live within 2km of landfill.
‘A recent widely publicised report on Grenfell by Professor Anna Stec discusses findings on Environmental Contamination.
‘There are some fundamental points I would like to highlight briefly …
‘The main fundamental point is that without proper investigation, communities are left at risk to their health both inside and outside of their homes!
‘The Independent Newspaper reports just this week on a school in Scotland built on landfill where children are ill and being withdrawn from the school, and four teachers have contracted a rare bladder cancer.
‘Landfill pollutes areas through several pathways, as do fires in buildings, but it is generally understood that both can involve complex chemical interactions that amplify toxic impact on the human body, whilst other interactions accumulate in the body and harm over time.
‘Plain speaking: carcinogenic and mutagenic effects mean genetic mutation and cancer causing impacts.
‘When major incidents occur, authorities are great in failing in their duty to protect communities by hiding behind an alleged lack of regulation.
‘They fail to conduct sampling in the grounds around people’s homes, and within the homes themselves, they fail to test the people, then fail to remediate, and they fail to monitor.
‘I must inform you the law is clear, you must not kill people! If you do, you get held responsible.
‘Authorities will often fail to disclose issues of environmental contamination, even when they do become aware communities are at risk of harm.
‘Independent impartial reviews must be commissioned where the community has a voice.
‘Costs to remediate will lead to arguments amongst the authorities responsible for the risks. Until people, and the powerful change their attitude and become invested in the need to care and act, things won’t change.
‘I am pleased that with Grenfell, some appetite seems to exists for independent analysis, hence the Stec Report. For Zane, abject failure to investigate continues.
‘Some authorities just want Zane to go away, they similarly wanted the Hillsborough families to go away, and Stephen Lawrence’s family to go away.
‘But all we ask is the truth, cooperation, and open frank discussion as the correct route out of the deceits of unaccountable power in the aftermath of a child’s death.
‘It is up to Parliament and the authorities to do the right thing.
‘To the many that are in support, unions and parties with national motions of support, including the FBU, PCS, Unite, TUC, and the Green Party, in addition, Lords, Unison, Labour CLPs, Opposition Secretaries of State, Bishops, and the public, as well as high profile people, Nicole and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, as undoubtedly Zane would want us to.
‘Zane is articled for his love of people and the environment, he wrote: “Sustainability and being green is not just tidying up your own garden – it’s about keeping tidy an even bigger garden that belongs to everyone” I want you to hear Zane’s own words to know the kindness, care and compassion he had for everyone else and us.
‘It’s 64 months since Zane was taken from his family. 82,000 people have signed Zane’s 38 Degree petition at www.truthaboutzane.com/petition for an Independent Panel Inquiry, we ask you to support the family to exceed 100,000 signatures it could really shine a spotlight on Zane’s case, and matters of environmental contamination.
‘Politicians must remember “You are what you do, not what you say”. Give Zane an IPI, let Zane and his family have the truth, Zane’s soul cries out for it.’
Zane’s dad ended his speech by saying: ‘For all us grieving fathers it will not go unnoticed that Sunday is Father’s Day and our arms are empty of our lost children.
‘My heart breaks for every father who feels this loss and pain. For all our lost children, you are forever in our hearts, and we fight for you.
‘Thank You for listening and Blessings to You All.’
