PIRC ON BAYOH
STATEMENT BY AAMER ANWAR ON BEHALF OF THE BAYOH FAMILY IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY THE SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION.
The personal attacks by the Police Federation and others have compounded the grief of Sheku’s family.
This case is about the death of a young man Sheku Bayoh in police custody and his family have every right to seek answers.
The family were told by PIRC that from day one nine police officers had refused to speak to them or to even provide statements since the 3rd May.
That has now been confirmed publicly by PIRC as the truth and vindicates the family’s position.
We understand that PIRC took a decision to do so after the press release issued on behalf of the Police Federation by their lawyer which claimed the following:-
“Peter Watson of PBW Law said: “The comments made by those representing the family of the deceased continue to promote a completely inaccurate and misleading account……..The officers involved have never refused to provide statements.
It was agreed at the outset with PIRC that they would revert to us when they wanted statements and when they were clear on the basis that statements were to be given.
PIRC emailed me this morning at 10:46am asking for our assistance to organise interviews and we answered at 11:29am confirming we would be pleased to assist. Those are the facts.”
However PIRC contradicted the above position by stating in a press release on the 4th June:
Police Independent Review Commission
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: 4 June 2015 at 16:09
Subject: PIRC statement in relation to death of Sheku Bayoh
To:xxxxxxxxxx@pirc.gsi.gov.uk
Following coverage earlier this week in relation to the death of Sheku Ahmed Tejan Bayoh, the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner has released the following statement:
“The PIRC has been leading on the investigation into the death in custody of Sheku Bayoh and since the hours following his death on Sunday 3 May 2015, has made several attempts to secure statements from the arresting officers.
Those officers have now agreed to provide statements to the PIRC and now that the PIRC is in the process of gathering the material, it will be considered along with the information already gathered throughout the course of the investigation to date.” END
To conclude the Bayoh family are tired, deeply upset and angry and feel that they have been accused of lying.
The Bayoh family hope that individuals who wish to insult them, will at now at least accord them some respect to allow them to prepare for the burial of Sheku Bayoh on Sunday.
SUNDAY 7TH JUNE- SHEKU BAYOH FUNERAL PLANS
Statement for the Bayoh family.
On Sunday 7th June the funeral of Sheku Bayoh will take place in Kirkcaldy five weeks after his death in police custody. Sheku’s family have invited his friends, community and supporters of the Justice Campaign to join them in celebrating his life.
There will be a funeral procession starting at 12:00 noon from Hayfield Road Kirkcaldy at the spot where he was restrained and lost consciousness.
The funeral cortege will leave Hayfield Road at 12.20pm and then will stop at Kirkcaldy Police Station, St. Brycedale Avenue, for a two minute silence and then work its way to Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre Mosque, 1 St Mary’s Road, KY1 2RQ for prayers at 1.45pm
Following which he will be laid to rest at the Dysart Muslim Cemetery at 2.50pm.
“The Bayoh family will stand in silence at Kirkcaldy Police Station in protest over the 9 officers who have failed to speak to the independent investigators of PIRC for well over a month. The family are tired of having to fight for answers and deserve the truth. There are those who claim that this funeral cortege is inflammatory, it is nothing of the sort and should any police officer or member of the public wish to cause trouble then they should stay away. The Bayoh family want Sunday to be a peaceful and dignified farewell to their beloved Sheku.”
A press conference will take place straight after the funeral at Temple Hall Community Centre, Beauly Place, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6EX at approximately 3.30pm. The Bayoh family, solicitor Aamer Anwar, Sierra Leone High Commissioner, Local politicians and Trade Unionists will speak.
Following this there will be a evening of celebration of the life of Sheku Bayoh ending at 8.30pm
Note – Everyone is welcome to the funeral
Those with cars are advice to park their cars at car parks before the walk from Hayfield Road.
There will be buses available to pick up;
- From Mosque to Temple hall community centre. (Women After Prayers)
- From Mosque to Dysart Cemetery.
- From Dysart cemetery to Temple hall community centre.
We would ask everyone to be respectful of the family’s request that the procession should be a peaceful dignified farewell to Sheku Bayoh.
