Families must be respected by coroner, says grieving wife

A WIDOW whose late husband's inquest was put back just hours before it was due to be heard has called for a system that cares more about grieving families.

Mary Moloney's sister had travelled from Switzerland to support her at the coroner's court hearing into her 54-year-old husband Daniel's death. Some of Mrs Moloney's six children, aged 16 to 28, were also preparing to have the matter finalised at the inquest scheduled for yesterday morning.

But a phone call to her home in the Cork suburb of Douglas on Thursday evening told them it had been put back and no new date has been arranged yet.

Daniel Moloney, who worked for the OPW, died when his car crashed with a van near Macroom, Co Cork, on his way home from Killarney on March 25.

The inquest was opened on May 25 but had to be adjourned because gardaí said a possible prosecution was being considered in relation to the accident.

"It was traumatic enough having to gear up for that, only to have it put back to this week. But then to find out the day before the second date that it was delayed again was awful," said Mary.

Either way, the inquest would have been adjourned again because gardaí are still awaiting a decision on the file by the DPP.

"It's absolutely no way to treat people, the system has to be more user-friendly to bereaved people," said Mary. A review of the coroner's service prepared for the department of justice 18-months ago contained more than 100 recommendations on improving the system, but they have not yet been implemented.

A department spokesperson said a committee set up last November is setting out coroner's rules as part of the preparations and their work is nearly finished.