PRESS RELEASE – 3rd OCTOBER 2022 – UK COVID INQUIRY PRELIMINARY HEARING ON TUES 4th OCTOBER, LONDON at 10am, FAMILY PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE THE HEARING AT 1PM, SCOTTISH CHAIR OF COVID INQUIRY, LADY POOLE RESIGNS

Statement by Aamer Anwar on behalf of the Scottish COVID19 Bereaved Families for Justice.

At 10am on Tuesday 4th October 2022 our legal team will appear at the UK Inquiry on behalf of the Scottish Bereaved Covid-19 Families at the UK Public Inquiry’s first Preliminary Hearing in 13 Bishop’s Bridge Road, London, W2 6BU.

In attendance will be lead solicitors Aamer Anwar, April Meechan & Senior Counsel Claire Mitchell KC.

Present on behalf of the bereaved families will be the Chair of the family group Dr Alan Wightman & Peter McMahon. A press conference will take place outside the hearing around 1pm with the above family members and their lawyer.

This morning I was informed by the Scottish Government that the Chair of the Scottish Inquiry, Lady Poole, has resigned.

The families we represent for many months have expressed grave concern about not being front and centre of the Scottish Inquiry as they were promised by the Scottish Government.
It is ironic that the UK Inquiry set up after Scotland is now under way.

Any new Judge chairing the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry must be robust, independent and with sufficient experience to carry out their role without interference from anyone. Their first task must be to win the trust of the bereaved families.

The families we represent in the midst of their grief have fought for truth, transparency and accountability. No institution or Minister of Government whether they be Scottish, Welsh, UK or Northern Irish should be allowed to escape robust scrutiny.

The first reaction of the families was dismay and anger at the delay this will cause to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, they hope that the Scottish Inquiry and the Scottish Government understand that so far, they have failed to deliver on the promises made to them and have wasted too much time.