A former police officer has instructed how the grieving household of a person who died in police custody "should not the one individuals who have been affected adversely" by his dying seven years in the past.
Alan Paton was one in all 9 officers concerned in restraining Sheku Bayoh when responding to a name in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Could 3, 2015.
The 31-year-old was pronounced lifeless a short while later.
In a press release learn out at a public inquiry in Edinburgh investigating Mr Bayoh's dying, Brian McConnachie QC, representing Mr Paton, stated the previous police officer was "impacted considerably" by the incident.
He stated Mr Paton retired from Police Scotland because of "sick well being" and has been identified with post-traumatic stress dysfunction for the reason that dying.
Mr McConnachie continued: "The chair of the inquiry has already said that the household of Sheku Bayoh and their pursuits will probably be on the coronary heart of the inquiry and it's acknowledged that that is totally acceptable.
"Nonetheless, they aren't the one individuals to have been affected adversely by the occasions of the early morning of three Could 2015.
"The dying of Sheku Bayoh has additionally impacted considerably upon the lifetime of Alan Paton and his household."
The lawyer went on to say Mr Paton has denied allegations that police choices and actions within the construct as much as Mr Bayoh's dying have been impacted by the color of his pores and skin.
Mr Bayou's household have beforehand stated they imagine race performed an element in his dying.
They've repeatedly requested: "If he was a white man, would he have been handled any totally different?"
Mr McConnachie instructed the inquiry the ex-officer "carried out his duties diligently and correctly" the night time Mr Bayoh was killed.
He stated: "His (Mr Paton's) involvement in issues has been singled out falsely as being motivated by race.
"There was intensive media protection naming him as being concerned within the incident and alleging racism and violence on his half.
"Mr Paton denies all these numerous accusations. He carried out his duties diligently and correctly."
Mr McConnachie stated Mr Paton believes the inquiry will have the ability to set up on the proof that there was "no wrongdoing on his half", and that "not one of the choices that he made nor actions he took have been affected in any method by Mr Bayoh's race".
Roddy Dunlop QC, representing retired constable Nicole Brief and Constable Craig Walker, who have been additionally on the scene the night time Mr Bayou died, learn a press release to the inquiry on their behalf.
It stated Ms Brief has been rendered "completely disabled" from accidents she sustained the day of Mr Bayou's dying.
Mr Dunlop continued: "It will be naive to suppose that the occasions of that day haven't had materials affect on the lives of the households of the officers who attended the scene that day."
He stated there have been accusations of racism directed in opposition to these officers and "such vilification has an enduring affect".
Mr Dunlop added: "The human curiosity within the welfare of these officers has largely been ignored since Could 2015.
"Their reputations have been tarnished, they are going to without end be related to the dying of Mr Bayoh, the accusations of racism, the accusations of brutality levelled in opposition to them.
"Ms Brief and PC Walker are assured that these accusations should not pretty directed at them. They have been merely doing their responsibility in making an attempt and traumatic circumstances."
Claire Mitchell QC, representing the Bayoh household, instructed the inquiry they've skilled institutional failure which started with a failure to protect the lifetime of Mr Bayoh and thereafter correctly to analyze his dying.
She stated Mr Bayoh's household have "endured the media smearing and stereotyping of Sheku and using racist stereotypes in reference to the circumstances of his dying".
Ms Mitchell added: "Law enforcement officials, Police Scotland, the Pirc (Police Investigations and Assessment Commissioner), the Scottish Police Federation and Crown Workplace all have troublesome inquiries to reply.
"Now could be the time for the reality in regards to the dying of Sheku Bayoh to emerge."
Do not miss the most recent information from round Scotland and past - Signal as much as our every day e-newsletterright here.