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| Air pollution death settlement is not a win - mum | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died from a fatal asthma attack in 2013 | Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died from a fatal asthma attack in 2013 |
| A mother whose nine-year-old daughter became the first person in the UK to have air pollution recognised as a factor in her death said she was "never going to win" despite settling legal action with the government. | |
| Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died following an asthma attack in 2013, with an inquest later finding air pollution "made a material contribution" to her death. | |
| Her mother Rosamund said settling the action for an undisclosed sum was not a win "because your child is already dead", but it did provide "an acknowledgement" of what happened to her. | |
| The government said it was "truly sorry" for Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah's loss and that it was committed to delivering an "ambitious clean air strategy". | |
| Ella, who lived 25 metres (82ft) from the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, suffered an asthma attack after being exposed to excessive air pollution, coroner Philip Barlow concluded. | Ella, who lived 25 metres (82ft) from the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, suffered an asthma attack after being exposed to excessive air pollution, coroner Philip Barlow concluded. |
| In a narrative verdict, he said the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near Ella's home had exceeded World Health Organization and European Union guidelines. | In a narrative verdict, he said the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near Ella's home had exceeded World Health Organization and European Union guidelines. |
| The inquest heard that in the three years before Ella's death, she had multiple seizures and was admitted to hospital 27 times. | The inquest heard that in the three years before Ella's death, she had multiple seizures and was admitted to hospital 27 times. |
| Her late daughter's estate, which Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah acts as administrator for, sued the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care, for compensation over Ella's "illness and premature death". | Her late daughter's estate, which Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah acts as administrator for, sued the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care, for compensation over Ella's "illness and premature death". |
| Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah attended the meeting with Ella's siblings, who she said were part of her motivation for seeking justice | |
| Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said the settlement was going to take a while to sink in "because I’ve been fighting for so long", adding that the apology was "not going to bring Ella back". | Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said the settlement was going to take a while to sink in "because I’ve been fighting for so long", adding that the apology was "not going to bring Ella back". |
| "It's a David and Goliath situation. I was never going to win. You can’t win because your child is already dead. | "It's a David and Goliath situation. I was never going to win. You can’t win because your child is already dead. |
| "But it was about the recognition, the justice, and I wanted them to do something." | "But it was about the recognition, the justice, and I wanted them to do something." |
| She told BBC London "the moment I decided to push for an apology was when our KC at the inquest, who is now the attorney general, equated Ella’s injuries to torture". | She told BBC London "the moment I decided to push for an apology was when our KC at the inquest, who is now the attorney general, equated Ella’s injuries to torture". |
| Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah added that the case had "affected my health, all the stress", but said she was "glad I did it and it answers a lot of questions for us about our health". | Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah added that the case had "affected my health, all the stress", but said she was "glad I did it and it answers a lot of questions for us about our health". |
| "It’s the acknowledgement of what happened to her. The fact that someone can become so ill so suddenly, and something horrific happen to them." | "It’s the acknowledgement of what happened to her. The fact that someone can become so ill so suddenly, and something horrific happen to them." |
| "I’m going to say it again and again. Ella isn’t the only one," she continued. | "I’m going to say it again and again. Ella isn’t the only one," she continued. |
| "The fact that in 2024 children continue to die from asthma is not acceptable." | "The fact that in 2024 children continue to die from asthma is not acceptable." |
| Ella was classified as disabled due to her respiratory problems | Ella was classified as disabled due to her respiratory problems |
| Accompanied by Ella’s siblings, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah met Emma Hardy, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Thursday morning. | Accompanied by Ella’s siblings, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah met Emma Hardy, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Thursday morning. |
| "I have told Ms Hardy today that so much more needs to be urgently done to improve our air quality and that I stand ready to assist her and the government to tackle what has become a public health crisis," she said. | "I have told Ms Hardy today that so much more needs to be urgently done to improve our air quality and that I stand ready to assist her and the government to tackle what has become a public health crisis," she said. |
| Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has urged the government to introduce "Ella's Law", which she wants to include the "right to breathe clean air as a basic human right", among other measures. | Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has urged the government to introduce "Ella's Law", which she wants to include the "right to breathe clean air as a basic human right", among other measures. |
| A statement issued on behalf of Defra, the Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care said: "Young children like Ella should not have to suffer because of our air. | A statement issued on behalf of Defra, the Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care said: "Young children like Ella should not have to suffer because of our air. |
| "Your words, both in this litigation and in your public campaigning, have made a considerable impact." | "Your words, both in this litigation and in your public campaigning, have made a considerable impact." |
| It said the government was "truly sorry for your loss" and expressed "our thoughts and deepest condolences" to Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella's siblings and everyone who knew her. | It said the government was "truly sorry for your loss" and expressed "our thoughts and deepest condolences" to Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella's siblings and everyone who knew her. |
| The statement added: "We are committed to delivering a comprehensive and ambitious Clean Air Strategy including a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced." | The statement added: "We are committed to delivering a comprehensive and ambitious Clean Air Strategy including a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced." |
| It said the government was also committed to a review into how air quality information is communicated with members of the public. | It said the government was also committed to a review into how air quality information is communicated with members of the public. |
| When the High Court action was first announced in January, under the previous Conservative government, the departments said they would be disputing the claim. | When the High Court action was first announced in January, under the previous Conservative government, the departments said they would be disputing the claim. |
| Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said the settlement was an "acknowledgement of what happened" to her daughter | |
| Ruth Waters-Falk, a solicitor for Hodge Jones & Allen, which brought the civil claim for Ella's estate, told BBC London the settlement "doesn't set a court precedent", but "demonstrates that with the right evidence, governments can be held to account for their failures in relation to air pollution". | Ruth Waters-Falk, a solicitor for Hodge Jones & Allen, which brought the civil claim for Ella's estate, told BBC London the settlement "doesn't set a court precedent", but "demonstrates that with the right evidence, governments can be held to account for their failures in relation to air pollution". |
| "I can definitely imagine similar claims being made should the government fail to take action to protect our environment if that then impacts upon human health and life," she said. | "I can definitely imagine similar claims being made should the government fail to take action to protect our environment if that then impacts upon human health and life," she said. |
| "We know that air pollution has a significant impact on our life... and the government has a clear responsibility for improving air quality in the UK." | "We know that air pollution has a significant impact on our life... and the government has a clear responsibility for improving air quality in the UK." |
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