The Price of Truth: Was the McGrail Inquiry Worth the Cost?
In recent weeks, as Gibraltar processed the 700-page final report from Sir Peter Openshaw, a familiar question continues to resurface: Was it worth the money? Critics often point to the £8 million price tag and the legal costs of potential challenges to its findings as a reason the process should never have happened. But transparency and accountability are not optional luxuries. They are the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and their value cannot be measured solely on a balance sheet. The Inquiry's Role as a "Truth-Finder" When trust in public institutions breaks down, a vacuum is created that is quickly filled by rumors and political spin. An inquiry’s primary role is to act as a "truth-finder". Unlike a criminal trial, which focuses only on whether a specific law was broken, an inquiry looks at the entire system. It establishes a definitive, evidence-based record. Such inquiries have the legal power to compel witness testimony and the release of internal do...