THE government will make a U-turn and hold a public inquiry into the Harold Shipman murders, Manchesteronline can reveal today.The move follows a decision by Health Secretary Alan Milburn not to appeal against a court victory by the victims' families and the M.E.N. which forced him to reconsider the reasons for holding the probe behind closed doors.A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "He will be consulting with the families prior to announcing details of a new inquiry." It is understood the new inquiry will be held in an open forum and allow all grievances to be aired in public.Today the Tameside Families Support Group - formed by 113 relatives of 55 known and suspected victims of the serial-killer GP - were celebrating after they heard Mr Milburn had decided not to challenge the judicial review ruling delivered at the High Court in London last week.They will now have talks with the Department for Health about the details of the new hearings but insiders have confirmed it is expected to be a full and open inquiry. Peter Wagstaff, whose mother Kathleen died at Shipman's hands, said: "We are delighted there is no appeal. We want to hear the full details of what will happen as soon as possible."We are reacting to what we are being told by the media, because our lawyers have been given no details yet. Mr Milburn is talking about consultation with the families, but you might have thought he would have done that before. Perhaps consultation and good communication should be at the top of the plan."Mike Woodruff, 59, whose mother-in-law Irene Turner was another Shipman victim, welcomed the decision as "excellent news." But he added: "If he had given us what we wanted in the first place, the inquiry could already be under way. If Mr Milburn had asked the families what we wanted it would have been nice. Instead he just sat in Westminster and decided what was best for us."The Tameside Families Support Group started the legal action for a judicial review in May, incensed by the Health Secretary's decision to have a private inquiry and not to discuss the issue with them.A group of the country's leading newspapers, including the Manchester Evening News, also successfully challenged the decision. Challenges were also lodged against the decision by inquiry chairman Lord Laming not to allow relatives to have legal representation at the hearings while other agencies would be able to have their legal teams present.Today the families' solicitor Ann Alexander, whose firm Alexander Harris represents the Tameside Families Support Group, said they had not been formally told of the decision not to appeal or the move to hold the inquiry in public.She said: "We welcome the decision of the Secretary of State and are pleased to hear that he intends to consult with the families regarding the format of a new inquiry."We hope that following such consultation and consideration of the issues raised in the judgement, he will reach the conclusion a public inquiry is required. We are hopeful this consultation and the subsequent decision will take place as soon as possible."A spokesman for Lord Laming said today. "We are awaiting instructions from Mr Milburn on how the inquiry moves forward."
