Aberfan: The Village That Fought Back review – the contempt they have faced to get justice is sickening

An estimated 100,000 tonnes of colliery waste engulfed Aberfan’s primary school and nearby homes on 21 October 1966, killing 144 people, including 116 children. This documentary review focuses on the bereaved families’ long struggle for accountability and the treatment they received from the National Coal Board and government, showing why the disaster’s aftermath remains a matter of public justice.

The inquiry found that the NCB knew spoil tips had been built over water sources, despite safety rules, and blamed the board, but no further action followed. The NCB sought £250,000 from the Aberfan Disaster Fund to remove the tip; the fund paid £150,000, while families later faced a proposed £500 household payment subject to proving closeness to a dead child. Survivors and relatives describe grief, anger and persistent efforts to challenge these decisions.