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Inquiry Into Retirement Of Former Commissioner Of Police To Have First Preliminary Hearing Late June

The inquiry into the retirement of the former Commissioner of Police Mr Ian McGrail will have its first Preliminary Hearing at the Garrison Library on the 22nd and 23rd June 2022 commencing at 10am.

A press note from the Inquiry Secretary continues:

 

Introduction 

The Commission of Inquiry was announced on 4 February 2022. This Inquiry will examine into the  reasons and circumstances leading to Mr Ian McGrail ceasing to be Commissioner of Police in June  2020 by taking early retirement. The Commissioner is to inquire, as he shall in his absolute discretion  consider appropriate, into such matters, ascertain the facts and report to the Government (“the  Inquiry”). The Inquiry was set up by His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL, Governor of  Gibraltar, for the Government of Gibraltar, at the request of the Chief Minister on 4 February 2022. Sir Charles Peter Lawford Openshaw is the sole Commissioner. 

The Inquiry has appointed Stephen V. Catania, of Attias & Levy, as Solicitor to the Inquiry. Stephen  Catania is assisted by Sunil Chandiramani and Jemma Emmerson. As Solicitor to the Inquiry, Stephen  Catania together with his team, is initially involved in drafting procedures, and gathering and  reviewing evidence. He will also manage the process of taking statements and liaise with participants  and their legal representatives. 

Familiarisation Visit to Gibraltar 

In line with the Commissioner’s intention that the Inquiry should operate correctly and maintain its  progress, the Commissioner attended Gibraltar from 4 to 7 May 2022 to take the oath before a  Justice of the Peace under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. During his visit, the Commissioner also  held meetings with Counsel and the Solicitor to the Inquiry and familiarised himself with Gibraltar. 

Website 

The Inquiry is launching its website shortly to assist it in keeping the public informed of news relating  to the Inquiry, forthcoming hearings and other information.  

Next Steps 

Over recent weeks, the Inquiry has sent out letters of request to parties to the Inquiry seeking  information and documents relevant to its Terms of Reference. These process continues. While the  requests have resulted in statements and exhibits being lodged with the Inquiry, for which the  Commissioner is grateful, he considers that a Preliminary Hearing is now required to deal with  procedural and administrative matters and to put in place directions to progress the Inquiry. The  first Preliminary Hearing will therefore take place in public at the Garrison Library on the 22 and 23  June 2022 commencing at 10am, and an agenda will be announced shortly and will be posted on the 

Inquiry website. The Commissioner expects that further hearings will be necessary over the coming months.  

The Inquiry is conscious of the need to complete its work as soon as is practically possible and will  continue to do all it can to avoid unnecessary delays. However, the timetable for completing its work  inevitably depends to a significant extent on the information and documents provided by potential  witnesses, which will have an impact on the time required to prepare for and complete the main hearing. 

The Inquiry has recently published a ‘Protocol relating to Legal Representation at Public Expense’.  This will be available on the website shortly.  

The Inquiry will issue further press notices as necessary to update the public as to the timetable and  nature of future hearings.