The chairman of the Sheku Bayoh inquiry has stood down from his position, tendering his resignation to the Deputy First Minister.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) had earlier asked for Lord Bracadale to recuse himself due to concerns about private meetings with Mr Bayoh’s family, a request he had initially refused.
In his resignation letter, the inquiry chairman said that concerns about his conduct “had not been allayed by my decision and that the criticisms have persisted”.
He continued: “As a result, it is now clear to me that many of the core participants have lost confidence in my conduct of the inquiry to such an extent that it cannot be retrieved”.
He said he hoped that ministers would be able to “appoint a new chair in early course in order to restore the confidence of all the core participants in the Inquiry”.
Mr Bayoh, 31, a father-of-two, died after he was restrained by around six police officers who were called to Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3 2015.
Following Lord Bracadale’s announcement, the SPF said his position had become “untenable” due to private meetings he had with Mr Bayoh’s family, where he discussed the evidence with them.
SPF general secretary David Kennedy said: “It is unfortunate for all those involved in the Inquiry that this situation has occurred.
“The meetings between Lord Bracadale and the family of Sheku Bayoh had created an appearance of bias.
“We look forward to the final stages of the Inquiry and bringing this matter to a conclusion.”