Covid Inquiry: hearings set to end in Belfast
Sue Gray who became a household name after penning a report into parties held at Downing Street during lockdown, will be the final witness
Last updated 16th May 2024
The UK Covid Inquiry is set to come to an end today (Thursday) after three weeks hearing from Northern Ireland's top decision-makers.
Since the inquiry opened at the end of April, evidence has been gathered from a number of key politicians including the former First Minister Baroness Arlene Foster and current First Minister Michelle O'Neill.
In addition, the inquiry heard from Chief Medical Officer, Sir Michael McBride and Health Minister Robin Swann - as well the current and former heads of the NI Civil Service, Jayne Brady and Sir David Sterling.
Former Permanent Finance Secretary, and Downing Street lockdown party investigator Sue Gray (pictured below), who is now chief of staff to Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is expected to be the final witness.
At the centre of the process are those families who lost loved ones during the pandemic.
Many attended the hearings across the three weeks and they will be there again as the closing statements are delivered.
Coleraine woman Lizzie Lyle lost her mum to covid in 2021. She was just 56 years old.
In an interview with Downtown Radio & Cool FM, she said her final memories spent with her will forever haunt her.
"I am lucky in a way I got to see my mum through a small window," she said. "my younger brother is who I feel sorry for - although I wouldn't want him to have the last memory I have ... of mummy lying in the bed struggling to breathe."
And like a number of other families, Lizzie feels the only way to get real answers as to what happened during the pandemic, is to have a Northern Ireland-specific inquiry.