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taining the large crowds. Amongst the revellers was Chief Minister Fabian Picardo who commented on progress made for the LGBT community on The Rock. “We’ve come a long way down the progressive road at last and we will never allow a reverse gear! The work of Samantha Sacramento has been essential in this area. Still lots to do though,” said Picardo. Pride will continue to be marked in Gibraltar throughout the month of June with the flag lying outside Gibraltar’s landmarks.
JOINING IN: The friendly faces of the police and revellers
Undue force! McGrail Inquiry: Ex-Police chief claims ‘improper pressure’ from Gib government forced early retirement A FORMER police boss has claimed he was forced from his job amid ‘improper pressure at the highest level of government’. The former Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) is hitting out at a much anticipated public inquiry on the Rock. It comes exactly two years since Ian McGrail announced he was retiring from the role after serving just two years of a four-year term. At the time he failed to reveal his reasons, leading to fierce speculation over why he would retire early after 36 years with the force. So huge were the claims - which we are not revealing for legal reasons - that questions in parliament led to demands that the matter be properly investigated. When McGrail himself called for
By Fiona Govan
an inquiry, one was duly set up at the request of Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in February. At a preliminary hearing under retired High Court judge Sir Peter Openshaw, McGrail’s lawyer laid out his central argument. “His core allegations are that he was put under inappropriate pressure in respect of the conduct of a criminal investigation,” insisted Caoilfhionn Gallagher, the QC representing him. She added he was ‘subsequently put under pressure by the same individuals to request early retirement against his will, pressure to which he ultimately succumbed’. In the opening session at the Garrison Library, last Wednesday (June 22), she insisted ‘the probity of GiTHE SKY braltar's insti-
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Worry
“I was told don’t worry, there will be an agreement,” he said. “Now we are isolated in the campo and relying on friends and neighbours to take us shopping and to medical appointments.” The poor advice mirrors hundreds of testimonies the Olive Press has heard throughout this debacle, leading to our front page U-Turn campaign launched on June 1. We are supporting the right of expats to swap their licences for Spanish ones, as has been the case in almost all other EU countries. Hudd, from Burton on Trent, has been campaigning continually since losing his right to
June 29th - July 12th 2022
GIBRALTAR has celebrated pride with a colourful march through the central streets. The roads were injected with all the colours of the rainbow during the march organised by the Gibraltar LGBT+ committee. Between 500 and 600 people joined the party, with Pride day starting with entertainment and speeches given in Grand Casemates Square before the march down Main Street. The fun continued well into the evening with both local and international acts enter-
By George Mathias
A PETITION demanding an answer from the British government over the right for expats to drive in Spain is nearly halfway there. Nearly 4,500 people have signed the demand for action, supported by the Olive Press’ U-Turn campaign. The petition needs 10,000 signatures to force the government to give an official response, with its creator, Stuart Hudd, urging a final push this month. The Murcia-based expat is furious that he is not able to drive in Spain under new Brexit rules, despite registering correctly as a resident in September 2020. Both he and wife got TIE residency certificates, but were wrongly told by a gestor in Mazarron they didn’t need to register to swap their driving licences.
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RETIRED: McGrail demanded an inquiry
tutions is at issue in this inquiry’. She added that she hoped the judicial investigation would be ‘full, fair and fearless’. However, Sir Peter Caruana, QC, representing the government, countered the claims, denying he was put under ‘any improper pressure’. “The Government, the then Governor, the Chief Minister and the Attorney General, deny that Mr McGrail was at any time, or by any of them, put under improper or
A Covid cold front DIRECTOR of Public Health Dr Helen Carter has warned that Covid could have unexpected consequences this winter. The pandemic seems to have impacted the patterns of other diseases, for example, Gibraltar is still recording cases of flu although flu-season normally ends by March or April. “We´re not sure why this is happening but, typically, we end up with more respiratory infections in the winter, whether that be flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the common cold as well, so we are anticipating that it is going to be a difficult winter ahead,” said Carter. Currently, the BA.5 variant is causing a surge in cases in Gibraltar. Concerns have arisen as far fewer people are regularly testing and the virus is continuously evolving. However, due to the vaccination programme, most patients only have mild symptoms and the number of hospitalisations is steady.
any pressure in the conduct of his job or the conduct of any criminal investigation,” he insisted. He argued he ‘chose to retire because he knew that, having lost the confidence of the Governor and the Chief Minister, his position had become untenable’. Judge Openshaw insisted that the inquiry would be conducted ‘quite independently’ from the Government. He added: “My findings will be made public. They are not subject to approval by the Government.” Evidence will be heard from all parties, including Fabian Picardo, while a general appeal has also been issued to the public for anyone who feels they can help.
Witnesses
Openshaw must now decide what steps he can give to offer protective measures to potential witnesses, including the possibility of providing evidence anonymously. Also discussed was whether steps would be made to provide a live feed of the proceedings, which will continue again in September. The main hearing of the inquiry is not expected to take place until March 2023.