In the matter of Hugh Jordan [2018] NICA 34
As the ongoing Maughan[1] litigation focuses minds on the standard of proof applicable for a suicide finding at an inquest, it is perhaps surprising how little thought is given to the issue of the burden of proof at an inquest. However, in the latest episode in the long running saga of the inquest into the death of Pearse Jordan, the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal has added some clarity to the position by recognising that there can, in some situations, be a burden of proof even in an inquisitorial setting. Nevertheless, determining factual issues in inquests will, sometimes, not be possible.
Burden? Standard?
First, a quick reminder of your second day of evidence lectures at law school:
- Standard of proof: the level of evidential certainty required to establish a fact.
- Burden of proof: the obligation on a party to adduce evidence to establish a fact.
Of course I hear you say, even a law school fresher would know there is no burden of proof within inquisitorial proceedings! Surely the clue is in the name? An ‘inquiry’ asks questions and establishes facts, but it does not require anyone to prove or disprove anything. An inquiry has no parties; no one has a formal case to put or a case to meet.
But just as the Maughan case (blog here) has reminded us all that assumptions are often the errors we don’t realise we are making, the NI Court of Appeal now tells us we would be wrong: when Art 2 is engaged there can be a burden of proof in an inquest – one to be discharged by the state.