Overview
- Five counsel—Angela Grahame KC, Laura Thomson KC, Jason Beer KC, Rachel Barrett and Sarah Loosemore—resigned following Lord Bracadale’s departure.
- Bracadale stepped down after acknowledging a loss of confidence from core participants following Scottish Police Federation complaints about private meetings with the Bayoh family and a pending judicial review on apparent bias.
- The inquiry stated that ministers will choose a new chair, who will then appoint replacement counsel.
- First Minister John Swinney said he is willing to meet the Bayoh family as the government works on next steps to complete the process.
- Public costs linked to the case exceed £50 million, and the departures have raised concerns about severe disruption as hearings neared their final stage.