Solicitor Aamer Anwar, Caroleanne Stewart, of Scottish Covid Bereaved, and Maggie Watterton, who lost both her husband and mother during the pandemic.
Professor Jason Leitch told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he deleted WhatsApp messages in line with the Scottish Government’s policy on the use and retention of informal messaging.
The inquiry also heard that, in November 2021, Mr Leitch gave current First Minister Mr Yousaf, who at the time was health secretary, advice on how to remain exempt from wearing a mask at a function, by holding a drink.
Speaking at a press conference outside the inquiry venue at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Caroleanne Stewart, of Scottish Covid Bereaved, questioned why Mr Leitch, pictured right, was “still in a job”.
Ms Stewart, whose brother died from Covid-19 in 2020, told journalists: “I would just like to say he (Prof Leitch) was a very confident man, but when he left, he wasn’t so confident because he was caught out, not only by King’s Counsel and the judge, and we are very grateful for that.
“I would like him to be answering: why are people still dying from Covid in hospitals (and) in care settings? If he’s still in that job, let him answer that question: what is he doing now to stop the death from Covid-19?”
Ms Stewart said it was “heart-breaking” to hear the revelations.
I trusted them, I felt him and Nicola Sturgeon were honest and trying to be open with us and to find out that was all just a facade, I don’t understand how they can hold their head up high — Caroleanne Stewart, sister of Covid victim
She added: “I was once one of the ones sat at home, listening to the podium every morning and saying: ‘Oh my god, thank god we’re not in England’.
“I trusted them, I felt him and Nicola Sturgeon were honest and trying to be open with us and to find out that was all just a facade, I don’t understand how they can hold their head up high.
“I don’t understand how they are still in a job. That’s our money. We voted (for) these people and they shouldn’t be there, none of them should be there.”
The Scottish Covid Bereaved group is represented by solicitor Aamer Anwar, who also gave a statement.
He said: “We appreciate in recent days there are those who have developed selective amnesia on the promises made by the Scottish Government, but there is no conspiracy, no smear, it is by her own words that the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is being judged.
“Let me make it clear, we act without fear or favour, the bereaved fight to give the many thousands who lost their lives to covid a voice, and to ensure that there is a legacy, that can only happen if they have the truth.”
Crosslet House in Dumbarton, one of the care homes into which untested people were removed.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to responding to both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries, as learning lessons from the pandemic is vital to prepare for the future.
“It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of evidence being considered by the UK Covid Inquiry while hearings are ongoing.”
Aamer Anwar, who also gave a statement. said: “We appreciate in recent days there are those who have developed selective amnesia on the promises made by the Scottish Government, but there is no conspiracy, no smear, it is by her own words that the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is being judged.
“Let me make it clear, we act without fear or favour, the bereaved fight to give the many thousands who lost their lives to covid a voice, and to ensure that there is a legacy, that can only happen if they have the truth.”
Lee Dodds, also from the Scottish Covid Bereaved group, said it was hard to listen to the evidence.
He said: “They go on about the WhatsApps, everything disappears and they don’t know how. I was just scunnered with it. I was getting bored listening to it about who was to blame, somebody else.
“But nothing about what happened to our loved ones. There was nothing there for us bar them blaming it on other people. And for me that wasn’t good enough for my son. I wanted answers but I didn’t get any.”
Maggie Watterton lost both her husband and mother during the pandemic.
She told reporters after Mr Yousaf’s evidence that his apology was “woeful”.
And she described the “rhetoric” of the Scottish Government as “very far from the reality”.
Mrs Watterton added: “They failed to act, they failed in fact to take evidence, advice from well renowned experts. They hid behind the empty words of the four harms framework, hid behind the mantra of reserved powers, delayed locking down in 2020, and it is obvious that ministers and officers of the government have been deleting crucial information which could materially impact the outcome of this inquiry.”
Mrs Watterton said their actions had “broken trust”.
She pleaded with both Mr Yousaf and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon to reflect on what they were doing deleting crucial evidence and their plans to reinstate independence campaigning while “people were dying in care homes”.
Meanwhile, responding to Humza Yousaf’s and Liz Lloyd’s evidence to the UK Covid inquiry, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:
“Today’s evidence from Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon’s closest confidante raises yet more questions for the former First Minister about the culture and actions of the government she led. It’s clear that there was an instinct for secrecy at every turn, virtually everyone was locked out of decision making and that accountability went out the window.
“SNP ministers were making life and death decisions. The trust people have in those is being shattered by chaotic record keeping, a failure to properly log the context of decisions and the indefensible mass deletion of messages at the top of government.
“The use of private emails and phones begs more questions for Nicola Sturgeon ahead of her appearance next week.
“The result of all of this is that bereaved families may never get the full picture that they are so desperate for.”