The Role of the

Coroner
Dr Loretta Nolan
BSc (Hons) MB BCh BAO DO MRCSI
FRCS(Glasg) FFSEM Barrister at Law
Coroner for County Kildare
• Who is the Coroner ?
• What does the Coroner do?
• Who does this service serve?
• What happens on a daily basis?
• With whom do Coroners interact?
The Office of the • Investigation of sudden, unexplained deaths or
Coroner deaths due to violence.
• Oversight of Death Certification
• Epidemiology
• Public Hearing
• Health and Safety recommendations
• Coroners Acts 1962 and 2005
• ECHR Act 2003
 • 38 Coroner districts
Coroners in • Coroner and Deputy
Ireland • Qualifications, Doctor or Lawyer of 5 years
standing
• Investigatory
• Quasi-judicial
• Administrative
• Educational and preventive
• Social and supportive
 •
Benefit to the To determine the medical cause of death
• To allay rumours and suspicion
public • To highlight remediable risks
• To advance medical knowledge
• To preserve the legal interests of the
family.
Prevention and Education

Road Conditions

Safety at Work

Drug abuse

Suicide
 • Not due to natural causes
Reportable • Not seen by GP within 1 calender month
Deaths • Less than 24 hours in hospital
• Closely Following surgery or anaesthetic
• Sudden and unknown cause
• Suspicious circumstances
• Self Inflicted
• Due to drugs or poisons
• Healthcare associated Infections
 • Road traffic collision
Reportable deaths • Due to negligence, misconduct or
malpractice.
• Work related
• In prison
• In Garda Custody
• Abortions or stillbirths
• Mental hospital
• Deaths in Nursing Homes
 • By direction of the Coroner
Post Mortem • Hospital based pathologist 96%
Examination- Is • State Pathologist 4%
the death natural • External and internal examination

explained and • Toxicology

• Histology
certifiable ? • Photography
• Radiology
The Inquest

Purpose = who, Scope = No

what, where, criminal or civil Timescale
when how ? liability

Inquest file Witnesses Listing

The Doctor in Court

• Your medical report/ deposition.

• Oath/Affirmation
• Evidence, Fact or opinion.
• Not adversarial
• Answer questions from Coroner and properly
interested persons.
Verdicts

• Natural causes
• Accident
• Misadventure
• Suicide
• Open
• Unlawful killing
• In accordance with criminal court verdict
• Narrative