Do buttered parsnips taste better? Publishing coronial conclusions

R (Ture) v Senior Coroner for Manchester North [2022] EWHC 1027 (Admin) 4 May 2022 (Judgment here)     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 […]

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No costs award after ‘serious concerns’ about a Coroner’s behaviour during litigation

In the Matter of Downey (Determination Of Costs) [2022] NIQB 2 (here) 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 […]

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Risk of self-incrimination will not justify a witness’ non-attendance at an inquest

M4 v The Coroner’s Service for Northern Ireland, [2022] NICA 6 (here) 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 […]

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Justice delayed is justice denied: an ‘unreasonable’ open verdict requires a fresh inquest 32 years later

Earl v Senior Coroner for East Sussex [2021] EWHC 3468 (Admin), 21.12.2021 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 […]

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The Art 2 investigative duty and ‘historic’ allegations – when is the duty engaged?

In the matter of an application by Margaret McQuillan for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) (Nos 1, 2 and 3) [2021] UKSC 55 In the same week that Dominic Raab unveiled his proposals for a new Bill of Rights, Parliament’s intent when it enacted the existing human rights framework has also been the subject of scrutiny […]

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