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2mo ago

Sheku Bayoh Inquiry Chair Quits Over Private Meetings, Threatening Delays

The exit follows police federation bias claims over private family meetings at a point when the inquiry had finished hearing evidence.

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Lord Bracadale was due to hear final submissions in the public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh

Overview

  • In his resignation letter to the deputy first minister, Lord Bracadale said many core participants had lost confidence in his conduct and that this could not be retrieved.
  • The inquiry had completed taking evidence, with closing submissions due next before a report would be drafted using recordings and transcripts available to any successor.
  • The Scottish Police Federation had sought his recusal over undisclosed meetings with the Bayoh family, and the inquiry’s solicitor later confirmed five such meetings.
  • A judicial review on apparent bias was reportedly weeks away when he stepped down, and the SPF said his position had become untenable.
  • The Bayoh family said they were devastated, lawyer Aamer Anwar warned delays could run to years and suggested the chair’s counsel team had also departed, and The Times reported costs to date of about £50 million.