John Swinney has told the family of Sheku Bayoh that his immediate priority is to appoint a new chair to enable the inquiry into his death to complete its work.

The First Minister met Mr Bayoh’s family at Holyrood on Thursday after the public inquiry was thrown into uncertainty following the resignation of chairman Lord Bracadale in October.

According to the family, Swinney agreed that the inquiry is of “paramount importance”, and told them it will “continue and conclude”.

Mr Bayoh, 31, a father-of-two, died after he was restrained by around six police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015.

An inquiry into his death in custody, and whether race played a factor, has been paused after chairman Lord Bracadale stood down in October.

Lord Bracadale had previously been criticised by t

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