Types of Inquest

Inquests can be held in a number of different ways depending upon the nature and complexity of the evidence that needs to be considered by the Coroner. 

The Coroner usually will conduct Inquest hearings in public in a courtroom, with any witnesses giving oral evidence under oath.  The bereaved and other interested persons may attend in person and will be permitted to ask relevant questions of witnesses.  

The types of hearings that may be held include:

Inquest opening:  The coroner must formally opens every inquest in public. At the opening, the coroner will set the dates for subsequent hearings. In some cases, the inquest will conclude on the same day as it is opened (known as single hearing inquests).

Single Hearing Inquest: This is where the inquest is opened and dealt with and so concludes all at the same haring. These take place when the coroenr considers the relevant facts are clear from the available documents at the outset, the bereaved have no concerns, and there is no need to seek further evidence to answer the statutory questions.

Pre-Inquest Review hearing: Sometimes called a PIR or PIRH. This is an administrative hearing held before the final inquest hearing. Where procedural issues are dealt with in preparation for the inquest.

Inquest hearing:  this is a fact-finding inquiry held in court to establish who has died and how, when and where the death occurred. They can be held with our without a jury. Witnesses may be called to give evidence.

Jury inquest: These will be held: most often where the deceased was in state detention at the time of their death or died at work.  There are usually between 7 and 11 jurors summonsed.  If you have been summonsed as a juror please see our information page for jurors here.

Documentary inquest:  Where evidence is not in dispute and no witnesses need to be called, a summary of the evidence is read to the court and the coroner will arrive at their conclusion on the basis of the documents alone. In such cases the inquest will still be held in open court but without any participants needing to attend unless they choose to do so.

Inquest in writing:  These inquests are conducted on the basis of documentary evidence and do not require a court hearing. The coroner will provide a written note of their conclusion. Inquests in writing will be listed at 9.00am on the Monday of each week. However, they may be concluded at any time during that week.

The current court diary can be seen here which shows any planned inquest hearings and a list of any inquests that are proposed to be held in writing.

Remote hearings

On occasions participants in a hearing will be permitted to join the inquest or PIR hearing by means of a web based video-link rather than attending in person.   There is no right to attend a hearing remotely and not all hearings will have a video link available.  

Members of the press or public who wish to attend a remote hearing must apply to do so.  A link to the formal request form is available here