An inquest must be held to investigate any sudden, unnatural, violent or unexplained death, to determine the identity of the deceased, when and where they died, and, without apportioning liability, how they died.
And though State bodies or private companies will have full legal representation, legal aid for families is generally only available in cases of deaths in State custody. Most families arriving at inquests, “felt . . . ‘cast adrift’, with no formal liaison person allocated to them. ‘There is no-one to tell you about the process. No-one spoke to us on the day’,” said one.“Delays in holding inquests remain unacceptable,” the report continues, with some families waiting up to 11 years, “creating uncertainty and extending the grieving process indefinitely.”
“The centrality of their investigative role in gathering and presenting evidence, liaising with families, and servicing inquests, created further doubts regarding coronial independence.”