Mone PPE evidence to be heard in private, judge rules

Detailed evidence about lucrative pandemic contracts awarded to a company linked to the Conservative peer Michelle Mone will be heard in private, the chair of the Covid inquiry has ruled.

- David Conn

The National Crime Agency has been examining potential criminal offences over deals secured by PPE Medpro and argued that its investigation could be prejudiced if the inquiry heard evidence in public.

Lady Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman denied for years that they were involved with the company until publicly admitting their link in December 2023. Both Mone and Barrowman, who is an Isle of Man-based businessman, have denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Last December as the inquiry chaired by Lady Hallett prepared to examine the government's procurement of vital medical supplies in the pandemic - the NCA applied for all evidence relating to PPE Medpro to be excluded.

Lawyers for families whose relatives died during the crisis criticised the NCA's application, arguing that the inquiry should hear full evidence about procurement.

Media organisations including the Guardian and the BBC said the NCA was overstating the risk of prejudice to its criminal investigation, given the amount of information already in the public domain.