Nick Cruz KC calls for legal, civil and criminal investigation after McGrail Report

In an opinion piece in today's Chronicle, local lawyer Nick Cruz KC says an investigative process should now begin to examine whether any legal, civil or criminal matters arise from the publication of the McGrail Inquiry Report.

Mr Cruz represented the RGP at the live hearings.

He calls Fabian Picardo's Christmas ministerial broadcast "delusionary" saying he should now resign - adding, if his ministers support him unconditionally, then they will own all his sins.

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Nick Cruz questions whether the Government has any democratic legitimacy left.

Highlighting some of Sir Peter Openshaw's findings in respect of the Chief Minister's behaviour, such as "sinister, grossly inappropriate, cynical and deceptive", he says no-one voted for this in 2023.

He questions whether his ministerial colleagues can continue to support, what he claims to be a "politically corrupted Government"

Mr Cruz says in the UK, many public inquiries have led to civil proceedings and criminal investigations, with some prosecutions - adding, Gibraltar law dictates there must at the very least be an investigative process.

On the recommendations in the McGrail Inquiry report, he says there can be no confidence in either the Police Authority or the Police Steering Committee for reforms - given the obvious conflicts of interest. The GPA chair, he points out, because of his relationship through Hassans law firm with Fabian Picardo. And the Steering Committee, given that Mr Picardo, who has been critically identified in the report, is the Governor's Co-Chair.

Mr Cruz calls for Mr Picardo to apologise to Mr McGrail, the RGP and to the wider public, before resigning.  

But says, he doubts he will, preferring to present the report perversely as a vindication. 

He ends his letter challenging the Chief Minister and all the Ministers to renew their mandate in either a general election, or at least a by-election triggered by the Chief Minster's resignation.