An inquest into the tragic deaths of James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, who were fatally stabbed by an extremist in Forbury Gardens, Reading, in June 2020, has determined that their deaths were avoidable. Khairi Saadallah, the perpetrator, received a whole-life term in 2021 for their murders under anti-terrorism laws.
The inquest, presided over by Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford, revealed significant shortcomings in intelligence sharing among state agencies. Judge Fulford highlighted Saadallah’s “volatility” and noted his “terrorist mindset” during the proceedings.
Several state entities, including Counter Terrorism Policing, the Probation Service, and Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, were singled out for criticism for their failures in handling the case.
Gary Furlong, father of James Furlong, expressed profound dismay outside the Old Bailey, emphasizing the systemic failures that led to the tragedy. He lamented, “Our boys didn’t stand a chance,” underscoring the series of failures by state agencies in addressing Saadallah’s threat.
Photo by Paul King taken at a memorial ceremony for James Furlong, 36, Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, and David Wails, 49 https://mywokingham.co.uk/news/flower-laying-ceremony-at-readings-forbury-gardens-2022/
