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Table of contents

  1. Preamble
  2. Penal Notice

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Restriction Order Pursuant to Section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 for the Closed Inquiry Hearings in the Week Commencing 14 September 2026

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OBI - Restriction Order for Closed Hearings - 11.09.26 (PDF, 67.5 KB)

The Chairman has the power under section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 (“the Act”) to make orders restricting attendance at a hearing and on the disclosure or publication of evidence and documents given, produced or provided to the Inquiry.


Any threat to break such an order, or any breach of it, can be certified to the High Court or Court of Session under section 36 of the Act, which will deal with it as though the breach had occurred in proceedings before that court, and may be punishable by a fine or committal to prison.


Preamble (Back to top)


The purpose of the Closed Hearings in the week commencing 14 September 2026 is to consider the applications from His Majesty’s Government (“HMG”), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (“PSNI”) and Counter-Terrorism Policing (“CTP”) as part of the Inquiry’s Closed Material Restriction Order process.


In exercise of the power, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. There will be no reporting or public broadcast (whether delayed or otherwise) of the Inquiry’s Closed Hearing.
  2. Attendance at the Closed Hearing shall be strictly limited to the individuals described at paragraph 3 of this Order. Prior to, or in the course of the hearing, the Chairman shall decide which of the individuals and organisations listed in paragraph 3 it is necessary to be present at the hearing, or any part of the hearing.
  3. Attendance at all, or part, of the Closed Hearing is restricted to the Authorised Persons listed in the confidential Annex to this restriction order.
    Material received by the Inquiry in which the material provider or relevant equity holder(s) asserts that national security sensitivities are engaged, shall be treated as provisionally CLOSED and held securely by the Inquiry and Authorised Persons. This also includes:
    a. Material prepared for and/or used at the Closed Hearing; and
    b. The audio recording and transcript of the Closed Hearing.
  4. This Order remains in force for the duration of the Inquiry and at all times thereafter, unless otherwise ordered.
  5. The Chairman of the Inquiry may vary or revoke this Order by making a further order during the course of the Inquiry. Representatives for the Authorised Persons will be notified in advance, and with sufficient notice to make representations, of any intention on the part of the Inquiry to modify or vary the terms of this Order.

Penal Notice (Back to top)

  1. The High Court and the Court of Session have the power to imprison or fine for any breach of this Order.
  2. Any breach of this Order by any means whatsoever shall be notified in writing to the Solicitor of the Inquiry immediately upon identification of the breach.

Rt. Hon. Lord Turnbull
Inquiry Chairman
11 September 2026