A Judicial Office spokesperson said: “Sheriff principal Pyle, the sheriff principal of Grampian, Highland and Islands, has been monitoring progress of the preparation of Sheriff McLaughlin’s determination in this inquiry over an extended period.
“The sheriff principal will now take personal control of the inquiry and has offered to meet the family of Warren Fenty, if they so wish, to discuss the delay and its consequences.”
The statement added: “The sheriff principal recognises that this is a very unsatisfactory situation and this step has been taken with great reluctance, recognising the harm which the delay to date has already done but also what yet more uncertainty will do to the interests of all parties to the inquiry, not least the family of the deceased.
“He will fix a hearing as a matter of urgency for the participants to be given the opportunity to discuss the best way forward. Whatever is decided, the inquiry will be under his sole control, including the preparation of the final determination.”
