Coroner attacks moves to ‘hide’ suicide

A coroner, outspoken in his crusade for more openness about suicide, yesterday voiced his opposition to Government plans to introduce a shorter version of a death certificate which would not disclose the cause of death.

Tánaiste Joan Burton confirmed regulations are being drafted where a short death cert will leave blank the manner in which a person died. She said the move will help to ease the upset to some families.

But coroner Terence Casey believes suicide should not be “hidden”. He said the regulations would be “totally and absolutely” the reverse of what he has been doing in his role.