McGrail Inquiry: Ben Cooper KC's clients granted core participant status

Since 2020, Ben Cooper KC has been representing Thomas Cornelio (a prominent software developer) and John Perez MBE (the former commander of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment), who were charged with Caine Sanchez (a senior civil servant) in the ’Operation Delhi’ case before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. In January 2022, shortly before the hearing of a defence application to dismiss the charges, the Attorney General of Gibraltar brought the criminal proceedings to end by entering a nolle prosequi. Operation Delhi is now under scrutiny in a public inquiry into the early retirement of Ian McGrail, formerly Gibraltar's most senior police officer, where it is alleged that the investigation and subsequent prosecution were subject to political interference. The inquiry Commissioner, former High Court judge Sir Peter Openshaw, has now granted core participant status to the Operation Delhi former defendants, all of whom will be represented before the inquiry by Ben Cooper KC, leading Ellis Sareen of Foundry Chambers. The main hearing in the inquiry is scheduled for September 2023.