Today, the Ministry of Justice published the most recent Coroners Statistics Annual Bulletin. It covers deaths between January and December 2021 and therefore, as last year, the effects of the Covid pandemic can still be seen throughout. The Bulletin remains a useful guide on the workload of coroners around the country and can be used to […]
Read More… from More Data on Death: Coroner Statistics Annual Bulletin for 2021
R (Ture) v Senior Coroner for Manchester North [2022] EWHC 1027 (Admin) It is not really the substance of this permission decision that is of most interest to this blogger… …Spoiler Alert: the Senior Coroner had done a really good job of expressing her conclusions in what had been a very difficult case both evidentially […]
Read More… from Do buttered parsnips taste better? Publishing coronial conclusions
In the Matter of Downey (Determination Of Costs) [2022] NIQB 2 Where a Coroner as defendant in judicial review proceedings merely provides assistance and information to the court, rather than contesting the proceedings, that Coroner will not generally be liable for the successful Claimant’s costs.[1] The usual rule of ‘costs following the event’ will generally only […]
M4 v The Coroner’s Service for Northern Ireland [2022] NICA 6 The privilege against self-incrimination is an ancient right firmly established in our Common Law dating back to the 17th century abolition of the Star Chamber. This privilege enables a witness to refuse to answer questions in court and to refuse to produce documents or material at […]
Read More… from Risk of self-incrimination will not justify a witness’ non-attendance at an inquest
Earl v Senior Coroner for East Sussex [2021] EWHC 3468 (Admin) When 22 year-old Jessie Earl disappeared in 1980 it was inexplicable to her parents that this very happy, family loving art student would just walk away from her home, her studies and her life. The suggestion by a police officer that Jessie had somehow […]