John Swinney tells family of Sheku Bayoh finding new inquiry chair will be made a 'priority'

John Swinney has told the family of Sheku Bayoh that his immediate priority is to appoint a new chair to enable the inquiry into his death to complete its work.

The First Minister met Mr Bayoh’s family at Holyrood on Thursday after the public inquiry was thrown into uncertainty following the resignation of chairman Lord Bracadale in October.

According to the family, Swinney agreed that the inquiry is of “paramount importance”, and told them it will “continue and conclude”.

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

An inquiry into his death in custody, and whether race played a factor, has been paused after chairman Lord Bracadale stood down in October.

Lord Bracadale had previously been criticised by the Scottish Police Federation after he met privately with the family of Mr Bayoh on at least five occasions.

In a letter to deputy first minister Kate Forbes, Lord Bracadale confirmed he was stepping down after the meetings “gave rise to an appearance of bias”.

The Bayoh family has since insisted that the Scottish Government must appoint a new chair and allow the public inquiry to move forward.

“The First Minister agreed with the Bayoh family that the public inquiry is of paramount importance, a chair will be found, it will continue and conclude,” the Bayoh family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said.

Mr Anwar said the family expects the First Minister to “back their search for the truth”.

Plans to replace chair ‘at pace’

Speaking after the meeting, the First Minister said he “reiterated the Scottish Government’s commitment to establishing the relevant facts surrounding Mr Bayoh’s death”.

“The independence of public inquiries is vitally important and it would not be appropriate for me to discuss any matters it is considering,” Swinney said.

“I did however assure the family that our immediate priority is to appoint a new chair to enable the inquiry to complete its work.

“The work to appoint a new chair is being led by the deputy first minister and taking place at pace.”

Swinney’s meeting with Mr Bayoh’s family comes just over a week after a former police officer said she was left “permanently disabled” while responding to the 2015 incident in which Mr Bayoh died.

North East & Tayside

Ex-police officer injured in Sheku Bayoh incident speaks out for first time

Former PC Nicola Short said she was left ‘permanently disabled’ following the 2015 incident, in which Mr Bayoh died.

Ex-Pc Nicole Short, who was allegedly assaulted by Mr Bayoh shortly before other police officers restrained him, spoke alongside Scottish Police Federation chairman David Kennedy at a press conference on November 5.

Mr Kennedy backed Ms Short’s calls for a new chair to the inquiry and said officers should also be afforded a meeting with the First Minister as “everything within the inquiry should be open, fair, and transparent”.

“What’s given to anyone within the inquiry should also be given to another,” he added.

The First Minister has agreed to meet Nicole Short and her colleagues, following an invitation from the Scottish Police Federation. Arrangements for this meeting are being taken forward.