Author: Bridget Dolan QC

Posts by Bridget Dolan QC

Centre for Contemporary Coronial Law: Lecture Series 2023

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The Coronial Law Lecture Series 2023  University of Bolton This course prepares participants for work connected to or within the coronial service – it covers theoretical and practical knowledge of how the law is applied, including traning in the process of coronial law and its practical application to individual scenarios. Delivered by experienced practitioners, the […]

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An inquest’s scope must not exclude evidence relevant to answering the statutory questions

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Leeson v HM Area Coroner for Manchester South (Donald McPherson & nine other interested parties) [2023] EWHC 62 (Admin) It is a very unusual coronial judicial review that has ten interested parties.  Here nine of the ten were insurance companies with whom the bereaved widower, Mr McPherson, had taken out ‘excessive’ insurance on his wife’s life […]

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PFD reports & PFD evidence: Discretion and Subjectivity

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Dillon v Assistant Coroner For Rutland & N Leicestershire [2022] EWHC 3186 KB (Admin) Challenging a Coroner’s refusal to issue a report to prevent future deaths (‘a PFD report’)[1] is always going to be an uphill struggle. Whilst there is no coronial discretion, and a report is mandatory, if a coroner determines action should be […]

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Sandilands, Shoreham and Sala: AIBs and the Coronial Investigation

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It is now six years since Singh J and the Lord Chief Justice considered the relationship between Accident Investigation Branch investigations (Rail, Air & Marine) and coroners’ inquests in ‘the Norfolk case’.[1] In that instance the issue was whether a coroner had the power to order the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (“AAIB”) to disclose a […]

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