FAQs

An inquest is a fact finding exercise.  The purpose of an inquest is to establish the answers to the four questions posed in section 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009[1].  These are:

• who the deceased was;
• when and where the death occurred;
• how the deceased came by his or her death; and
• particulars required by the Registration Acts to be registered concerning the death.

If the Coroner decides that Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (as enacted through the Human Rights Act 1998) is engaged, the coroner’s investigation  to answer ‘how’ someone died will be wider and consider both by what means and in what circumstances they died.

It is important to note that the proceedings and evidence are aimed only at determining the answers to these questions and are not a mechanism for apportioning civil or criminal liability against a named individual.  If evidence is found, however, that suggests an individual or organisation may be to blame for the death, then a coroner can pass all the evidence gathered to the appropriate authorities.

Inquests for the 22 people who lost their lives in June formally opened in October 2018. Whilst further pre-inquest hearings continue to take place this year, the Coroner, Sir John Saunders, has set a start date for April 2020.

The pre-inquest hearing, which was scheduled for Monday 7 October in Central Manchester, has been adjourned by the Coroner.

Yes. Inquests are open to the public and to the media. Media will have access and will be able to report on the Manchester Arena Inquests. However, space in hearing rooms may be limited and priority will always be given to Interested Persons. Consideration will be given to making arrangements to provide greater media and public access to proceedings through the provision of a court annex with audio and visual links to the courtroom.

Those attending the inquests should note that the courtroom is subject to the same restrictions as would apply to normal court proceedings. When the court is sitting, the use of other communications or recording equipment, cameras and personal stereos is strictly prohibited. You may tweet and use laptops silently. For further information please see Chief Coroner Guidance No. 25 – Coroners and the media.

Yes. However, space in hearing rooms may be limited and priority will always be given to Interested Persons. Consideration will be given to making arrangements to provide greater media and public access to proceedings through the provision of a court annex with audio and visual links to the courtroom.

Transcripts of hearings will be published on this website together with, wherever possible, the evidence that has been seen and heard during the course of the Inquests.

After hearing the evidence at an inquest into a death, a coroner or jury (if there is one) must make certain determinations and findings (see section 10 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009and rule 34 of the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013). A determination needs to record formally the answer to the four statutory questions (the identity of the deceased and where, when and how they came by their death). The findings are the details required for registration purposes. The outcome of an inquest is recorded on a Record of Inquest.

In respect of the question ‘how’ the deceased came by his or her death, the possible short-form conclusions which are available to a coroner or jury may include the following:

• Accident or misadventure;
• Lawful / unlawful killing;
• Natural causes; or
• Open (where the evidence did not fully or further disclose the means whereby the cause of death arose).

These would be recorded in box 4 of the Record of Inquest. As an alternative, or in addition to one of the above ‘short-form’ conclusions a coroner or jury may make a brief narrative conclusion.

Further details about the outcome of an inquest, including law sheets and guidance, can be found on the website of the Office of the Chief Coroner – https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/related-offices-and-bodies/office-chief-coroner/

Where a coroner has conducted an inquest, and anything revealed gives rise to concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur or continue to exist, then the coroner must report the matter to a person who the coroner believes may have power to take such action. Examples of this might be reporting matters to a police force, the Crown Prosecution Service or the Health and Safety Executive (this list is not exhaustive). A person or organisation to whom a coroner makes such a report must give the coroner a written response to it within 56 days, or longer if permitted by the coroner.

An Interested Person is defined in section 47 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009[2] . A coroner may designate an Interested Person (often shortened to ‘IP’) if they meet the legal test set out in this section. Examples of those who may be designated as an Interested Person as of right include a parent, spouse or sibling of a deceased person, the beneficiary of a life insurance policy held by the deceased person or a Chief Constable where the death involves a homicide offence. A coroner may also designate any other person whom they consider has a sufficient interest.

An Interested Person is entitled to participate in the inquest. They will receive disclosure of relevant materials from the coroner, they may make legal submissions and are permitted to ask questions of witnesses called to give evidence.

A solicitor to an inquest has a varied role, including:

• helping a coroner to conduct his investigation;
• obtaining evidence;
• overseeing disclosure to Interested Persons;
• instructing counsel to an inquest; and
• liaising with witnesses, Interested Persons and their legal representatives.

The role of counsel to an inquest may include:

• presenting evidence;
• questioning witnesses; and
• making legal submissions to assist the coroner.