McGrail Inquiry report delayed again due to Deputy Coroner concerns over inquest

Publication of the long-awaited McGrail Inquiry Report has been delayed again following concerns raised by the Deputy Coroner about the impact of releasing parts of the report while an inquest is ongoing.

Part of the report's findings could overlap with the evidence in the Inquest, and the Deputy Coroner believes it has the potential to influence the jury.

The report had been due to be published on the 5th December.

However, the Chief Minister, whose alleged actions are central to the inquiry, is currently recovering from surgery to repair a detached retina and is not expected to be fully active until later this week.

In the meantime, the Deputy Coroner has written to the Deputy Chief Minister expressing concerns.

He says sections of the report may overlap with evidence currently being considered by a jury in an inquest into the deaths of two men following a collision with an RGP vessel in March 2020.

That incident forms part of the inquiry’s remit.

The Deputy Coroner warned that publication of findings or opinions relating to the collision could improperly influence the jury.

He has therefore asked the Government to consider temporarily redacting or withholding those sections until the inquest concludes.

The request follows submissions from counsel representing all interested parties, who raised similar concerns.

The jury is expected to return a verdict later this week.

The Government says it will comply with the request and now intends to publish the report in full early next week, acknowledging it will be only days before Christmas.