Grenfell survivor still dreams about horrific fire nine years after 72 lives lost

Grenfell survivor still dreams about horrific fire nine years after 72 lives lost Today marks nine years since the worst fire within living memory in the UK, but still Grenfell survivors say they can't move on from the horrific day that saw 72 dead, because justice is yet to be served Nine years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives, survivor Antonio Roncolato still finds himself reliving the trauma of the disaster that tore apart the community he once called home. Today, bereaved families, survivors and residents will come together once again in their fight for justice, as they walk through the streets of west London on a silent walk, followed by the reading of the names of the 72 dead. But this year will be different, marking the final anniversary before the tower block is completely demolished. It will also be the first time they won't be able to visit the tower to pay condolences and lay flowers. Antonio Roncolato, 66, lived in the tower for 27 years and was among the last residents to escape alive, but the memories of the disaster remain as vivid as ever. As he walks through North Kensington, he still stops at the memorial wall, reflecting on the community that was torn apart in the early hours of June 14, 2017. Antonio told the Mirror: “It’s another year gone by. It’s nine years. The memories are still very vivid in my head. I dream at night many times about Grenfell, about the community, about what’s happening here. “I think back to the night, the aftermath straight away and the chaotic days that took place after. Grenfell was my home and I was almost sentenced to death in there.” The public inquiry into Grenfell found the fire was avoidable, having been preceded by “decades of failure” by governments and the building industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings. The inquiry’s final report in 2024 found victims, the bereaved and survivors were “badly failed” through incompetence, dishonesty and greed, with the tower block covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms which made and sold the cladding and insulation. Just last month, Metropolitan Police officers investigating the Grenfell fire announced they would be submitting their files to the Crown Prosecution Service this September, with a charging decision expected before the 10th anniversary next June. Officers said 57 individuals and 20 companies remained suspects in the investigation and could face criminal charges. The possible charges included misconduct in public office, corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and breaches of health and safety law. Natasha Elcock, Chair of Grenfell United, knows the pain of Grenfell all too well. The survivor, who lost her uncle in the fire, has previously described herself as “one of the lucky ones”. Reflecting on the change bereaved families and survivors were promised, she told the Mirror: “After Grenfell, politicians stood before cameras and told us that lessons would be learned. We were told that no community would ever again experience what ours did. Yet nearly a decade later, we have lived through two governments, five Prime Ministers and eight different Secretaries of State responsible for housing, communities and local government. “With every reshuffle came new promises, new priorities and new people telling us they understood our pain and would deliver change. But the revolving door of political leadership has too often meant lost momentum, repeated conversations and delayed action.” While justice has yet to be delivered, many survivors say they cannot escape the impact of Grenfell. Antonio said: “I still think ‘My God, how did we manage to go through all of this... all of this pain caused to the community, to my family, all the families of the people that were looking for their loved ones and couldn’t find them'. “There is always something, every few months there is something related to Grenfell. The fact the tower is coming down, the inquiry took place for a long time and then the fact that the recommendations are still not implemented fully. So there are always factors that make you not forget about Grenfell, and it makes you being continuously reminded about it.” Seventy two people died in the fire, something that Antonio believes people often forget. While reflecting on those losses, Antonio said: “I often put myself in the shoes of those that have lost loved ones. They will never get their loved ones back, this is something we have to bear in mind. We cannot just say this doesn’t concern me anymore.” For Natasha, the issue extends far beyond Grenfell and raised wider questions about how human life is valued. She said: “For those of us who lived through Grenfell, this is not about party politics. It is about whether this country truly values human life. “Grenfell taught this country the consequences of ignoring affected communities, yet too often governments still appear to struggle with the simple principle that those most impacted must be listened to with honesty, respect and care.” Nine years on, Natasha continues to campaign for people she believes remained at risk of the same dangers exposed by Grenfell. She said: ”There has been the refusal to fully deliver Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for disabled and vulnerable residents in high-rise buildings. Grenfell taught us the deadly consequences of failing to plan for those who cannot self-evacuate. Yet government hesitation and delay across administrations have left many people still living in fear, without clear protections should the worst happen. “The same is true of cladding remediation. Thousands of people across the country continue to live in unsafe buildings, trapped in homes covered with dangerous materials. “Too often, social housing residents were ignored, dismissed or treated as though their voices mattered less. Residents raised concerns before the fire and were not heard. Respecting tenants means more than consultation after the fact - it means sharing power and acting on concerns before tragedy strikes.” Antonio said: “As long as justice is not being served the wounds and open wounds will still be open, there is no closure.” Reacting to last month announcements, Joe Powell, MP for Kensington & Bayswater, the constituency where Grenfell Tower is, said: "I have today written to the Courts Minister asking what steps can be taken to ensure court capacity is in place for what will be a complex set of interlocking trials. The judiciary have shown that on issues of national significance such as in the aftermath of the Southport attacks, where justice must be seen to be done, that the system can move at speed. "The families of the victims, the bereaved, the survivors, and the community in North Kensington have been waiting nine years for justice. By the time the first cases reach the courts, they will have been waiting for over a decade. The wait has been agonising, but I will do everything I can to ensure that Truth, Justice and Change for Grenfell is achieved."