An inquest into the deaths of a mother and her four children after their house was set alight will go ahead. 

In the early hours of December 11, 2017, the home of the Pearson family in Jackson Street, Walkden, was set on fire. 

The blaze took the lives of Brandon, aged eight, Demi, 15, Lacie, seven and Lia, three, as well as their mother, Michelle Pearson, who escaped it but succumbed to her injuries 20 months after the incident. 

In 2018, Zak Bolland and David Worrall were found guilty of murdering the children, and then also their mother in 2021. Courtney Brierley was also jailed for manslaughter alongside the pair. 

Now, close to the seventh anniversary of the fire, it has been confirmed there will be a full inquest into the deaths. 

A pre-inquest review at Bolton Coroners' Court today, Tuesday, heard submissions from legal counsel representing the family, Salford Council, Greater Manchester Police and other agencies which had involvement with the family and with the perpetrators of the fire. 

Lia Pearson, Brandon Pearson, Lacie Pearson and Demi PearsonLia Pearson, Brandon Pearson, Lacie Pearson and Demi Pearson At the hearing, Senior Coroner Timothy Brennand outlined his preliminary view that there was sufficient reason to resume the inquest. 

He cited care concerns about Ms Pearson while she lived in a nursing home after the fire, as well as issues which arose from an unpublished review by Salford Council. 

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Mr Brennand said: "The family are of the view, for the inquest process, that the complications of the burns ought properly to be scrutinised."

He added that there were concerns about the "quality and treatment of care".  

Michelle PearsonMichelle Pearson Speaking about the unreleased review, Mr Brennand said: "On the basis of the document, I thought it was revelatory on matters I thought important to my considerations. 

"I would prefer the interested persons to see what I have seen. There are competing matters and matters of public interest. 

"The local authority is not being obstructive, there are ramifications of wider disclosure. We need to safeguard and protect other individuals who are not necessarily part of the coronial process." 

The coroner also raised the issue of whether there had been any family involvement in any reviews such as a serious case review. 

Family counsel, Anna Morris KC, said: "I am not aware of any involvement in the serious case review. I don't think there was any involvement in any reports, I have not been spoken to about any." 

Mr Brennand then said he intends to resume the inquest into the deaths of Michelle and her four children. 

Two further pre-inquest reviews were set for February 26 and April 11 next year. 

The full inquest will begin on June 2, with an estimated length of five weeks.