Swinney tells Sheku Bayoh family that new inquiry chair is priority

John Swinney has met the family of Sheku Bayoh after the judge leading the inquiry into his death stood down.

Mr Bayoh was 31 when he died after being restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 2015.

Lord Bracadale resigned from the probe - set up to examine what happened before, during and after his death and whether race was a factor - last month amid questions over his impartiality.

The family's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said the first minister had agreed that finding a new chair and concluding the inquiry was of "paramount importance".

Swinney previously said he had agreed to meet Mr Bayoh's family, who said they felt "totally betrayed" by the criminal justice system following the decision.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) repeatedly questioned Lord Bracadale's ability to be impartial in the probe over a series of meetings he had with the family.

Mr Aanwar said a new chair for the inquiry did not need to "reinvent the wheel" and that the bulk of evidence had already been taken.

He accused the SPF of attempting to "sabotage" the probe and said the first minister had agreed the inquiry would be seen through.

He said: "What is important today, is that the federation need to stop wasting time demanding a Fatal Accident Inquiry, it simply is not going to happen.

"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."

Swinney said the appointment of a new chair to lead the inquiry was being handled by the deputy first minister, Kate Forbes.

The Sheku Bayoh Inquiry, which began in November 2020, has so far cost £26.2m, with an additional £24.3m spent by Police Scotland, including £17.3m of legal costs.

Mr Bayoh, a father-of-two, was restrained by six police officers after he was allegedly spotted carrying a knife and behaving erratically on a street in Kirkcaldy.

He was not carrying the knife when officers arrived at the scene.

Mr Bayoh lost consciousness during the struggle that ensued and later died in hospital.

Police officers involved in the altercation have also requested a meeting with the first minister, which he has agreed to.

One of them, Nicole Short, who was injured and has since retired from the force on grounds of ill-health, has said she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a letter to Swinney, seen by BBC Scotland News, lawyers for the SPF said the circumstances around Lord Bracadale's resignation had caused "considerable concern".

They also requested a meeting with the first minister.

The Scottish government said arrangements for that meeting were "being taken forward".

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

"I did however assure Mr Bayoh's family that our immediate priority is to appoint a new chair to enable the inquiry to complete its work."