Law and Rights
One of the oldest offices known to the law is that of Coroner. Writing in The Times 1st May, Frances Gibb drew attention to how Coroners have become the voice of grieving relatives seeking to expose systemic failings which may have contributed to their loved one's deaths. There can be little doubt that many governmental failings relating to provision for the Armed Forces would not have come to light but for the inquest system - see Andrew Walker, Coroner.
Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the entire system relating to Coroners is going to receive a complete overhaul and many of the structural reforms will (generally) be welcomed. Whilst the Bill was in Parliament, there were some attempts by the government to enable the Secretary of State for Justice to direct that an inquest be held in secret. These did not succeed BUT there is section 11. This blandly states that "Schedule 1 is to have effect". When you delve into Schedule 1 there is a power to suspend an inquest pending an Inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. Further, such an inquest would not normally be resumed since the Inquiry would substitute for the inquest. Turning to section 19 of the 2005 Act there are extensive powers for Ministers to restrict public access to an inquiry - e.g. on grounds of national security.
It would appear that, in the years to come, the Coroner's voice may be heard rather less than previously.
- Inquest Or Inquiry? Litvinenko
Update 3rd October - Litvinenko's widow to seek judicial review of decision not to hold an inquiry - RTE Ireland Update 12th July - an Inquiry has been ruled out even though the Coroner (Owen J) requested it - BBC News UK 12th July Update...
- Hillsborough Disaster ~ New Inquest To Be Held
Update: The judgment of the court quashing all the inquest verdicts - Her Majesty' Attorney-General v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (West) and HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (West) [2012] EWHC 3783 Admin - Lord Judge LCJ, Burnett...
- Coroners - Chief Coroner And Updating The System
Chief Coroner - Peter Thornton QCCoroners and Justice Act 2009 On 17th September, the new Chief Coroner for England and Wales (Judge Peter Thornton QC) finally took office. As the government cogitated about implementation of the 2009 Act, he was...
- Hillsborough ~ Independent Panel ~ No.2
UPDATE 12th October - IPCC announcement UPDATE 5th October - Retirement announced of Sir Norman Bettison - Chief Constable of South Yorkshire UPDATE 17th September - The Justice Gap - Mark George QC - Hillsborough and Cover Ups UPDATES 13th September...
- Inquest - London Bombs Of 7th July 2005
With Addendum of 15th May The Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Hallett DBE - Acting Deputy Coroner for Inner West London - has delivered a verdict of unlawful killing in relation to 52 deaths caused by the detonation of bombs in London on 7th July 2005 - often referred...
Law and Rights
Coroners: A voice for grieving relatives
Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the entire system relating to Coroners is going to receive a complete overhaul and many of the structural reforms will (generally) be welcomed. Whilst the Bill was in Parliament, there were some attempts by the government to enable the Secretary of State for Justice to direct that an inquest be held in secret. These did not succeed BUT there is section 11. This blandly states that "Schedule 1 is to have effect". When you delve into Schedule 1 there is a power to suspend an inquest pending an Inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. Further, such an inquest would not normally be resumed since the Inquiry would substitute for the inquest. Turning to section 19 of the 2005 Act there are extensive powers for Ministers to restrict public access to an inquiry - e.g. on grounds of national security.
It would appear that, in the years to come, the Coroner's voice may be heard rather less than previously.
- Inquest Or Inquiry? Litvinenko
Update 3rd October - Litvinenko's widow to seek judicial review of decision not to hold an inquiry - RTE Ireland Update 12th July - an Inquiry has been ruled out even though the Coroner (Owen J) requested it - BBC News UK 12th July Update...
- Hillsborough Disaster ~ New Inquest To Be Held
Update: The judgment of the court quashing all the inquest verdicts - Her Majesty' Attorney-General v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (West) and HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (West) [2012] EWHC 3783 Admin - Lord Judge LCJ, Burnett...
- Coroners - Chief Coroner And Updating The System
Chief Coroner - Peter Thornton QCCoroners and Justice Act 2009 On 17th September, the new Chief Coroner for England and Wales (Judge Peter Thornton QC) finally took office. As the government cogitated about implementation of the 2009 Act, he was...
- Hillsborough ~ Independent Panel ~ No.2
UPDATE 12th October - IPCC announcement UPDATE 5th October - Retirement announced of Sir Norman Bettison - Chief Constable of South Yorkshire UPDATE 17th September - The Justice Gap - Mark George QC - Hillsborough and Cover Ups UPDATES 13th September...
- Inquest - London Bombs Of 7th July 2005
With Addendum of 15th May The Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Hallett DBE - Acting Deputy Coroner for Inner West London - has delivered a verdict of unlawful killing in relation to 52 deaths caused by the detonation of bombs in London on 7th July 2005 - often referred...