Eljamel Inquiry to Postpone Hearings

In a determination sent to core participants on 23rd March 2026, Lord Weir confirmed that the Section 1 hearings planned for April and May will be postponed until full, in-person hearings can resume.

The Chair’s determination has been published on the Inquiry’s website and can be read here.

Lord Weir had previously proposed holding some of the Section 1 hearings virtually in April and May due to issues relating to building safety which affect the hearings suite at Waverley Gate in Edinburgh.

Core participants were notified about this proposal earlier this month and details were later published on the Inquiry’s website on 11th March 2026.

The hearings suite which has been provided for the Inquiry’s use is a commercial property of which the Scottish Government is the tenant.

The Inquiry has been advised by representatives of the Scottish Ministers, in their capacity as tenants of the property, that members of the public should not be brought into the hearing suite until that safety issue is resolved.

On 18th March 2026, Lord Weir wrote again to core participants to explain that the only alternative to virtual hearings would be to postpone the planned Section 1 hearings until a later date.

In light of concerns raised publicly by some patient core participants and MSPs who represent former patients of Mr Eljamel, Lord Weir has decided to postpone the Section 1 hearings.

Lord Weir said: “My commitment to putting the former patients of Mr Eljamel at the centre of the process demands, in my view, on this occasion, that their expressions of anger and upset be listened to and acted upon.”

As a “first step”, Lord Weir added that he intends to “seek a clear explanation from the Scottish Government as to when a hearings venue, be it the current hearings suite or a suitable alternative, can be made available for the evidential hearings of the Inquiry to be held”.

He said: “I will do this on the basis that the timing of the evidential hearings will be dependent on a clear answer being provided to that question.”

Potential alternative venues will also be investigated by the Inquiry team.

Lord Weir said it would be beneficial for the Inquiry to hold a procedural hearing, as soon as it is able, to set out the next steps.

This is likely to be a virtual hearing. Further details of the timing and aims of that procedural hearing will be made available to core participants as soon as possible. 

The Inquiry will disclose materials to core participants in the coming months to enable progress towards the Section 1 hearings.