PRESS RELEASE – 22 MAY 2023 – ‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’ meet with Stuart Gale KC, Senior Counsel to the Scottish Covid 19 Public Inquiry – Inquiry to commence in Summer 2023

‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’ meet with Stuart Gale KC, Senior Counsel to the Scottish Covid 19 Public Inquiry – Inquiry to commence in Summer 2023

Statement on behalf of the ‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’ group by their Solicitor Aamer Anwar, following today’s meeting with Stuart Gale KC in Edinburgh.

“Lord Brailsford was appointed after the resignation of the previous Chair following a difficult period, where the Scottish Covid Inquiry appeared to falter then stall. From the very first meeting Lord Brailsford won the confidence of the ‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’ through his compassion and empathy. The Inquiry has moved at a pace since Lord Brailsford’s appointment. Today was another important milestone for Scotland’s Inquiry on the eve of the UK inquiry beginning next month at which we appear on behalf of the ‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’.

The families who are key stake holders welcomed the candid meeting today with Stuart Gale KC, Senior Counsel to the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry. Mr Gale showed himself to be kind, compassionate and full of genuine empathy as Lord Brailsford was.

The role of Senior Counsel is to direct the investigation according to the terms of reference and present the evidence. Mr Gale promised that he will not be ‘reticent in asking difficult questions’, he will be ‘independent, doing his job without fear or favour’, ‘adopting a human rights philosophy’, whilst placing the families front and centre of the inquiry.

Three years on from the height of the Pandemic, the families recognise that the task before Stuart Gale is a daunting and massive one, his remit is Scotland wide, but he carries the heavy responsibility and the honour of meeting the families demands for truth, justice, and accountability.

The families were told the Scottish Public Inquiry will formally commence in July this year with expert evidence and full hearings will follow in October 2023. A detailed timetable and witness list will be provided in due course.

Covid-19 is something that everyone in Scotland has lived through, for many it was an inconvenience, but the hardship and suffering imposed by the pandemic was not equally spread, for the families we represent it was a horrific and traumatic experience.

The families we represent in Scotland confronted on a daily basis the risk of infection or worse, in hospitals, care homes, prisons and on the frontline of the public sector, for thousands it meant the loss of life, the impact on their lives was devastating.

The bereaved families have fought for a public inquiry that will be an effective robust mechanism to ensure that what has happened to them will not happen again.”