Constance Marten : “Old Bailey Reopens After Fire: Historic Courthouse Back in Action!”

The Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, was forced to shut down temporarily last Wednesday morning due to a fire that broke out in an electrical substation. The incident caused significant disruptions, affecting numerous ongoing cases.

Witnesses reported seeing black smoke billowing from the building, creating a chaotic scene. As a result of the fire, courtrooms were engulfed in darkness, leading to the evacuation of approximately 1,500 individuals. Additionally, two individuals had to be rescued from malfunctioning lifts.

Emergency services swiftly responded to the incident, with four fire engines and 25 firefighters dispatched to the scene. The Old Bailey’s entrance was filled with barristers, dressed in their traditional black gowns and wigs, anxiously awaiting updates.

Amidst the chaos, defendants were escorted by police out of a side exit and transferred into waiting prison vans for transportation back to jail. The disruption had a significant impact on ongoing cases, including the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who stand accused of the manslaughter of their baby daughter, as well as the inquest into the deaths of the victims of the Reading terror attack.

Following an investigation by the London Fire Brigade, the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, with no suspicion of foul play. However, the incident prompted Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, to announce necessary emergency works and safety checks before resuming normal court operations.

On Friday, Judge Lucraft reassured the public that the Old Bailey would reopen at noon on Monday after the completion of the emergency works to restore power. The unique nature of the court, known for hearing major criminal cases, including high-profile murder and terrorism trials, necessitates stringent security measures.

The Old Bailey has previously been identified as a high-value terror target, as evidenced by the IRA car bomb attack in 1973, which caused severe damage to the historic building. Consequently, security remains a top priority for the court.