Coroner Rules Out Risky Inquests Amid Covid Crisis
Coroner Caroline Sumeray has slammed plans to push on with inquests during the pandemic as dangerous and unjustifiable. Since the first national lockdown, the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court has repeatedly halted hearings.
Inquests Grounded Since November Lockdown
Only a handful of inquests went ahead in September and October last year. But since November’s lockdown, not a single case has been heard. Despite Chief Coroner guidance urging safe and managed hearings, the Isle of Wight remains in limbo.
“We are still in the middle of a very dangerous pandemic, where the rates of Covid on the Isle of Wight were, until only a few days ago, significantly higher than the national average,” said Mrs Sumeray.
Unsuitable Courtrooms and Safety Concerns
Inquests take place within the combined courts in Newport — but Mrs Sumeray admits the rooms are anything but Covid-secure. With no windows for ventilation and no control over cleaning between hearings, risks soar.
She stresses the importance of protecting her small team’s health. “If they become unwell, the coroner’s office grinds to a halt, causing immense difficulties for all those who deal with us,” she added.
NHS Staff Stretched, Remote Hearings Not Feasible
Adding pressure, NHS witnesses are still battling Covid on the front lines, so their input is understandably delayed. Unlike criminal courts, the coroner’s court can’t use remote hearings — and many elderly bereaved families lack the tech know-how for video calls.
Backlog Mounts with Cases Waiting Nearly Two Years
The fallout? An ever-growing backlog of cases, including one inquest originally set for March 2020 now edging close to two years since the death. How and when the coroner’s office will clear the logjam remains unclear.
