McGrail report publication could be delayed further

Publication of the McGrail Inquiry Report could be delayed depending on the Chief Minister's medical prognosis.

The original date for the report's publication was Friday 5th December, with this postponed as the Chief Minister required an operation for a serious eye condition.

Postponing the publication of the McGrail Inquiry Report, the Government said that given that the Chief Minister's alleged action had been central to the inquiry, it considered it "inappropriate and unfair" that the report be published at a time when Mr Picardo was unable to address it publicly and participate in the foreseeable debate about its contents.

Publication was postponed to early in the week of the 15th December, in the expectation that the Chief Minister would be fit and able to respond later that week to initial public comments issued by others.

In response to GBC questions, a spokeperson for Number Six said that although the Chief Minister is recovering well, "there is now doubt he will be able to return to work during the week of 15 December as he had hoped".

They added that should that turn out to be the case, publication may have to be further postponed according to his medical prognosis.