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Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said he was ‘proud’ of how his government had built so many affordable homes. “This will allow families whose needs may have changed in that time to sell on the open market,” Picardo said. But he reminded homeowners of the flats he had built during the latest GSLP/Liberal period in government they would still have to wait some time before being able to sell their flats. “The prevention of speculation on new affordable properties continues to work in the way that it was always intended to; to provide affordable homes for generations of Gibraltarian families,” he added. Just in case homeowners are unsure whether they can sell up, they can contact public housing manager Land Property Services for full consent. The move comes as the government set about building over a thousand new affordable homes over the coming years. Opinion Page 6
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How an Olive Press reporter’s joke tortilla caused a national outrage
April 19th - May 2nd 2023
Page 6
Sailing odyssey A SALVO of artillery fire marked the arrival of the Gotheborg of Sweden, the world’s largest ocean-going wooden sailing ship, to Gibraltar. Commander British Forces Gibraltar Tom Guy watched the two-minute gun salute with the Gotheborg Stopover Team and CEO of the Gibraltar Tourist Board Kevin Bossino from the balcony of the Tower. Guests had the chance to go aboard to check out the ship. More enthusiastic wannabe seafarers can even pay to work as a deckhand on trips to Jersey or Hamburg. The ship is a unique replica of the 18th Century ship that ran aground just outside its home port of Gothenburg in 1745.
HOLY GRAIL!
Controversy and debate after Gibraltar’s ex-police chief McGrail is charged with sexual assault GIBRALTAR’S former police chief has been accused of ‘sexual assault’ in a case described as ‘a fit up’. Ian McGrail - who is subject of a big political public inquiry - has been charged with the attack on a policewoman in 2018. In a remarkable level of support, 25 friends and relatives arrived to back him when he attended Gibraltar court on Friday. One told the Olive Press: “It has raised a lot of eyebrows. It is so unlike him. There is a lot of debate about how and why this has all suddenly come together.” McGrail, 56, who retired early from the force in June 2020, two years into his four-year term, was arrested at his home at 7am on Thursday. It comes a year after a public inquiry was launched over claims that he was unfairly ‘pressured to resign’. The former Commissioner will now stand trial for the alleged assault which is believed to have occurred at New Mole Police Station. Described as ‘low grade’ and ‘innocuous’ by Olive Press legal sources, his friends question the timing of the claims. “Many people believe he has been smeared,” said one, who asked not to be named. “There is a general view there is nothing in it and the fact that so many family members have turned up clearly shows that.” The senior investigating officer announcing the charge is former detective chief superintendent John McVea, who is already leading a separate investigation into McGrail’s general conduct. Two weeks ago, McVea ordered the arrest of McGrail on suspicion of misconduct in public office, conspiracy to obtain unauthorised access to computer material, and unlawful obtaining of personal data. Police released him after 10 hours in custody with his lawyer later claim-
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Vol. 7 Issue 196
HOUSING BONANZA THE property market in Gibraltar could be turned upside down after the Gibraltar Government gave the green light for affordable homeowners to sell their flats. It will mean ordinary working class families that have owned a 30-year-old government flat for at least the last decade will be able to now sell their property on the lucrative private market. With homes on the Rock going for over £4,000 per square metre, the rewards of the relaxing of lease conditions could make working people very wealthy overnight. The government decision is a longterm manifesto commitment. Flats on the Westside reclamation could now be sold at around four or five times their original price. The government said in a statement that it was ‘fair’ that after 30 years ‘the resale restrictions should no longer apply’.
APRIL FOOLED
GIBRALTAR
By John Culatto
ing it was he who had actually ‘uncovered the data breach’. McVea, who himself recently retired from the force after 33 years, has returned to the Rock with a team of Northern Irish and Welsh officers on March 22. Current Commissioner Richard Ullger said the investigation would be independent and transparent.
Inquiry
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had finally ordered an inquiry into McGrail’s retirement in February last year. At a preliminary hearing, McGrail’s lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC insisted: “His core allegations are he was put under inappropriate pressure in respect of the conduct of a criminal investigation.” The human rights lawyer from London’s Doughty Street Chambers added he was ‘subsequently put under pressure by the same individuals to request early retirement against his will’. However, Sir Peter Caruana, KC, representing the government, countered the claims, denying he was put under ‘any improper pressure’. The main hearing will begin on September 25 with Picardo admitting it ‘could be very damaging for Gibraltar’ in a TV interview for GBC. “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 any pressure in the conduct of his job or the con-
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SPOTLIGHT: on McGrail as ‘sex assault’ accusation made duct 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. In subsequent hearings, Openshaw invited police officers and then the general public to bring any charge against McGrail before the inquiry. After McGrail’s arrest for the data breach, Openshaw postponed the fourth preliminary hearing set for March 23 until April 12. He also set the main hearing of the inquiry for September 25 to October 20.
But Opposition leader Keith Azopardi said in a Gibraltar Chronicle opinion piece that ‘there is a public sense in some quarters that there is a desire to derail this inquiry’.
Damaging
He did not mention names in the vague accusation. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the inquiry ‘could be very damaging for Gibraltar’ in a TV interview last November. “I look forward to all the truth coming out,” Picardo told GBC. “I think people will realise that I acted entirely properly throughout.” The Chief Minister is due to give evidence before the man inquiry when it starts in autumn this year.
GET THE FERIA FEVER Set a date with Spain’s biggest and best summer parties with our special guide on page 14