Inquiry plans virtual hearings for April and May

The Eljamel Inquiry has updated plans for its first block of evidential hearings.

The Inquiry is due to hold Section 1 hearings over a three-week period, from the week beginning Monday 20th April 2026.

Due to issues which currently affect how the Inquiry can use the hearing space at Waverley Gate in Edinburgh, the Inquiry will now hold these hearings virtually.

Media and members of the public who wish to watch the Inquiry’s hearings will be able to do so via the livestream on the Inquiry’s website and YouTube channel, as they have for previous hearings

In light of the current situation, Lord Weir has decided that oral hearings relating to some of the evidence planned for Section 1 should be deferred until a later date. 

This is intended to allow core participants and their legal representatives to attend those hearings in person.

Full details of the witnesses to be called during the Section 1 hearings in April and May will be published in the coming weeks.

Lord Weir said: “I understand that this situation will be disappointing for many of our core participants who would wish to attend hearings in person.

“The Inquiry shares this frustration. The situation is outwith the Inquiry’s control, but I look forward to it being resolved as quickly as possible.

“After careful consideration, and in order to make reasonable progress, it is my view that the Inquiry should hold virtual hearings in April and May while deferring some of the hearings relating to the Section 1 evidence until a later date.

“Virtual hearings have been held before in other inquiries and I am confident that these can be done in a manner which enables the participation of our core participants and their recognised legal representatives as originally planned, albeit now virtually.

“I would like to assure those interested in the work of the Inquiry that the evidence we intend to cover during April and May will be meaningful and relevant. 

"However, I have considered that certain matters would more appropriately dealt with in a second phase of Section 1 hearings.”

The Inquiry is still working towards hearings in Section 2 of its hearings plan. 

It remains the intention to hold these in September of this year.