First Minister John Swinney 'happy to meet family of Sheku Bayoh' after inquiry chair quits

John Swinney has said he would be happy to meet with the family of Sheku Bayoh, after the chairman of the inquiry into his death stood down.

The First Minister’s comments come as the Scottish Greens say they will press the Government to appoint a new chair for the inquiry as soon as possible.

Lord Bracadale tendered his resignation on Tuesday over concerns about private meetings with Mr Bayoh’s family, a request he had initially refused.

The Scottish Police Federation said his position had become “untenable” as a result of these meetings.

The inquiry’s legal team, who were appointed by Lord Bracadale, have also stood down.

Lord Bracadale stood down from the inquiry (Andrew Milligan/PA)
PA Media

Mr Bayoh, 31, a father-of-two, died after he was restrained by around six police officers who were called to Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3 2015.

Swinney said the Government is working on the “next steps” for the inquiry.

The First Minister told BBC Scotland: “I would be perfectly happy to meet with the Sheku Bayoh family. We’ve met before.

“I’d be happy to meet again to consider these issues – and to assure them of the importance that we attach to making sure that this inquiry is completed and that any of the lessons that need to be learned are learned.”

The chairs of public inquiries are appointed by ministers, though they operate independently from government.

Maggie Chapman, justice spokeswoman for the Scottish Green Party, said it would be “devastating” for the family if the issue cannot be resolved before the next Holyrood election.

She told the PA news agency on Saturday: “We’ve been talking about this for years, it’s not like it’s an issue that’s just cropped up.

Sheku Bayoh died in 2015 (Family Handout/PA) PA Media

“The family needs justice. And I think it speaks to wider societal issues around discrimination in our public institutions.”

She said she would be raising the issue with the Scottish Government, urging them to resume the inquiry as quickly as possible.

Aamer Anwar, the lawyer who represents Mr Bayoh’s family, warned the resignations could set the process back by years.

He said on Wednesday: “There is nothing wrong with the chair treating a bereaved family with compassion and respect.

“But the treatment of Lord Bracadale by our institutionally racist criminal justice system is a warning to any judge who dares to act without fear or favour.”