Archbishop of Westminster Welcomes Inquiry into Shooting of Brazilian

The Archbishop of Westminster has welcomed the promise of an inquiry into the shooting of Jean-Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian wrongly suspected of being a suicide bomber, at Stockwell Station on 22 July, warning that lessons must be learned.

Speaking last Friday at the conclusion of a memorial Mass at Westminster Cathedral to commemorate the life of the 27-year-old Brazilian, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said a thorough and impartial investigation was vital.

He said: “The family and friends of Jean Charles need to know the truth, so there can be justice, forgiveness and healing.

“Britain too needs to know the truth of what happened last Friday. We must learn the right lessons from the tragic death of Jean-Charles, and put in place whatever changes are necessary.”

Alessandro Alves Pereira, the cousin of Menezes, said at the Mass his cousin’s death was a “terrible mistake” and that the family were hoping to get justice.

The Goodwill Ambassador of the Council of Europe Bianca Jagger also spoke at the service, calling for those responsible to be made accountable for their actions and reiterating the sentiments of the late Pope John Paul II in her call to “overcome evil with good.”

The Mass was held in Portuguese and timed to coincide with the funeral of Menezes in his home town of Gonzaga, in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Brazilian chaplain of the diocese of Westminster, Fr Frederico Ribeiro, at whose church of Nossa Senhora da Aparecida in east London Menezes was a regular parishioner, led the Mass also attended by a Muslim scholar and rabbi, and human-rights lawyer Gareth Pierce.

Fr Ribeiro said: “He made us proud to be Brazilian.”