„.

Claimant:Name of Witness : Kerry 011IaraStatement No:Exhibits:Date:

PHASE 1 STATEMENT OF KERRY O'HARA

I,-Kerry O'Hara of

WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS:-

1. T make this statement in connection with Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

2. The statements I make are from my own knowledge or belief unless otherwise stated.

If not from-my-own knowledge I will identify the source.

Before the Grenfell Tower fire

3. At the time of the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017, I was the sole occupant of Flat

34- on the -sixth floor of Grenfell Tower. I had lived there for 18 years at the time.

During this time I did not receive any fire safety training or guidance at all- whether

through- the post or in person. I am not sure when, but at some point before the

refurbishment, the smoke alarm in my flat was replaced. I was told by the people who

installed the smoke alarm that if there is a fire-I- should "stay put” in my flat.

The night of the fire

4. I was at home on the night of the fire. Earlier in the evening of 13 June 2017, I had

been out to see my friend Joycey. I had two cans of lager and a kebab with her and left

her house at about 9 pm as I was tired and wanted a bath. I got home to Grenfell Tower

around 9.30 pm - 9.45 pm. I did not notice anything unusual about the Tower at that

time.

5. After having my bath I went and sat in the lounge to watch TV and then I switched off

the TV at around 10.30 pm and went to bed. I didn't go to sleep straight away. I stayed

1

IVVS00000991_0001

up on my phone browsing Facebook for about two hours. Eventually, I turned off my

phone at about 12.30 am, switched off my light, and lay down to get to sleep.

6. I was in bed tossing and turning when I smelled something burning. It smelled as if

some rubber was burning. I am not sure what time I smelled- it. I had the bedroom

window open as it was a hot night. Then I heard a commotion outside and I thought it

would be kids in the playground which is on the same side of the Tower as my

bedroom.

7. I put -the bedroom light on, went into the hallway and down into the lounge, then

opened the lounge window. I don't know why I went to the lounge instead of looking

out of my bedroom window, it was just instinct. I looked out of the window and could

see people shouting things such as "Get out". When they saw me in the window, they

said "jumpl" as well. There was a fire officer who looked up at me and we met each

other's eyes, and he said "Stay put. We'll get to you eventually". This was all

happening at the same time.

8. I realised that it was a fire- when I saw the fire brigade, and I knew it was serious. I

became hysterical, screaming, and going back and forth to the window shouting "Help

me! Help me!". At first, I had an idea to get a wet towel and put my cat Rosie-in it, but

I quiddy became -hysterical-and I forgot to do this.

9. When_ I did calmed down-a little bit later, I ran to the hallway and put on my sandals, a

pink jacket and my thermal pyjamas. I got a wet flannel from -the bathroom which_ I

used to cover my mouth. Rosie was sitting on the sofa looking at me as I went to the

door and opened it. It was pitch black and full of smoke. This would have been about

1.30 am although I didn't look at a clock.

10. There was no smoke in my flat throughout the time that I was in there, until I opened

my door to leave. I had a smoke alarm in my flat which was working. It was not going

off until I opened my door and smoke must have come in which then activated the

smoke alarm. I had a heat detector in the kitchen which didn't go off. There was an

alarm in the landing on the ceiling but this was not going off while I was there. There

was no lighting in the landing and it was pitch black. There was no alarm or lighting in

the stairwell and this also was pitch black.

2

IWS00000991_0002

11 I made my way to the stairs and made my way down the stairwell shouting "Help me"

and "I'm here". There was thick black smoke on every floor down from my floor, until

I got to the second floor where there was much less smoke. I met a fire officer on the

second floor and also my friends Sharon and Kenny. Sharon lives on the fifth floor and

Kenny was a friend who I presume was visiting her. I don't know Sharon or Kenny's

surnames. Sharon and Kenny assisted the firefighter to take me down the stairs. The

firefighter went in front of me and held my hand and Sharon and Kenny helped me

down the steps from behind.

12. The firefighter handed me over to _another firefighter in the lobby and I think he said

"Here's another one". The second firefighter then took me to an ambulance which was

by the leisure centre. There were lots of ambulances and fire engines. Generally there

was a lot of commotion, noise, screaming and crying. The paramedics gave me oxygen

and told me I had to stay sitting down. Sharon and Kenny came over and Sharon-gave

me a hug, then they turned and ran back towards-the_building. I think they were going

-to try to go back in.

13. After receiving treatment at the ambulance, I went to my friend Jackies house. Jackie

works at

I went to her house and eventually she was woken up by her lodgers. She let me

in and I-stayed there for two or three nights after the fire.

14. I assumed that Rosie had died in the fire. However, approximately two months after the

fire, Rosie was found by a member of the public on the streets near Grenfell and

brought back to me. I do not know how she survived.

I believe that the facts stated in-this witness statement are true.

SIGNED kap09 .1MS KERRY O'HARA

DATED '2:1 2

3

IWS00000991_0003

Claimant:Name of Witness : Kerry O'HaraStatement No:Exhibits:Date:

IN THE GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY

STATEMENT OF KERRY O'HARA

Solicitors for the Claimant

Hodge Jones & Allen LLP180 North Gower StreetLondonNW1 2NB

DX: 2101 EUSTON

Tel: 0207 874 8430Fax: 0207 874 8304Ref: 1023179.0003/JKU

4

IWS00000991_0004