Author: Bridget Dolan QC

Posts by Bridget Dolan QC

Should Senior Coroners need to seek the Attorney General’s permission under s.13?

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Re HM Senior Coroner for North West Wales [2017] EWHC 2557 (Admin) When unidentified human remains were found on a Welsh beach in 1994 the cause of death was unascertained: the inquest returned an open verdict with the deceased unknown. However, tissue samples had been retained and advances in forensic science had recently allowed a […]

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When giving Inquest evidence may cause distress to a vulnerable witness

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R (Maguire) v Assistant Coroner West Yorkshire [2017] EWHC 2039 (Admin) The horrific murder of Mrs Ann Maguire, a school teacher stabbed in her classroom by a 15 year old pupil, justifiably shocked the Nation. Now that William Cornick has pleaded guilty to her murder (and been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years’ detention) […]

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Deepcut Coroner decides to hear inquest without jury

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His Honour Peter Rook QC has decided to hear the forthcoming inquest into the death of Sean Benton without a jury. Private Benton died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut Barracks in 1995, the first of four deaths at the barracks that have caused enduring public interest and led to numerous investigations. The original inquest, which […]

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Self inflicted deaths in prison: “Something must be done” – but what?

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R (Scarfe & Ors) v Governor HMP Woodhill & SoS Justice [2017] EWHC 1194 (Admin) HMP Woodhill has achieved the unenviable status of having the highest rate and the highest number of self-inflicted deaths of any prison in the entire prison estate. Thirteen men have died there since 2013 at their own hand, seven of […]

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