Submitted by Iain McKie on Saturday, March 25, 2000 (posted 31 March 2000, 5:56 PM, London time):
The Inquiry called for by the Scottish Police Chief Constables and being conducted by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Mr. William Taylor, has started this week.
I have already spoken to the Inquiry Team and have been briefed on their intentions. We will co-operate with them fully.
Their work is expected to last about three months with the results being formally published.
The terms of reference for the Inquiry can be viewed at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/wa-00/wa0322.htm#5105
I have a number of reservations about the restricted terms of the Inquiry. While I have no doubt about the integrity and independence of Mr. Taylor and his Inquiry team we have little reason to have any confidence in the will of the Scottish Executive to answer our questions and allow the truth to be revealed.
It could be argued they are hiding behind an Inquiry which they did not even set up. The Lord Advocate and Minister for Justice continue to avoid answering important questions relating to Shirley's arrest and treatment at the hands of Strathclyde Police and the Prosecution Services. These questions are not relevant to the Inquiry and we will be continuing our pressure for these issues to be addressed independently.
In the final analysis it is the legal and political decisions that are made which are important no matter how comprehensive the Inquiry is. I have little confidence that the current cover-up will be easily overcome and continue to feel that the establishment are looking for the Inquiry to reveal something which will let them off the hook rather than have to face these serious issues head on.
As you will see from the BBC news items highlighted on this Board we received excellent coverage from a press conference called by Shirley's Scottish National Party MSP, Mike Russell, at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Shirley, Pat Wertheim, David Grieve and other experts attended and were able to brief journalists on the current position.
There is still evidence of an hidden agenda to the suspected cover -up and some of the Scottish Newspapers have hinted at it this week.
While I believe that the Inquiry team should be left to get on with their work I hope that anyone with a relevant point to make or information to provide will be facilitated the opportunity to do so.
On behalf of Shirley and her family can I offer my heartfelt thanks for the continuing support that we have received publicly through this board and privately through e-mail, letters and personal contact.
Please keep the comments flowing. Remember this site is regularly monitored by all the parties involved in this issue.
I still challenge SCRO to break their silence and offer their evidence for public scrutiny!!
I continue to welcome comment at my e-mail address and will reply by return.
I fully believe that others might well have suffered as Shirley has and I will pass on any information I receive in this respect. There is a lot more to come out of this Inquiry!
--Iain McKie.