Family of man who died in 2023 urge action amid inquest delay
Senator Chris Andrews said the family is frustrated by the delay in bringing the case to a hearing at Dublin City Coroner’s Court. Picture: iStock
The family of a man believed to have died by suicide three years ago say they are being left without answers because of a delay in the holding of an inquest into his death.
Gary Ward from Ringsend in Dublin died on April 7, 2023.
An inquest into his death has not yet taken place and his case has recently been raised in the Seanad.
Gary’s brother Adam told the that his family has been told the delay in holding an inquest into his death is due to “outstanding documentation”.
He said: “But we’ve never been given a clear explanation of what exactly is outstanding, who is responsible for it, or when it’s likely to be resolved. It’s felt very unclear the whole way through.
"We’ve also felt like we’ve been passed around between different offices and people, without anyone really taking ownership or being able to give us a straight answer on what’s actually going on. Communication has been very limited.
"There have been long periods where we’ve heard nothing, and when we do get responses, they tend to be quite vague and don’t give any real sense of progress.”
Adam continued: “The delay has had a real impact on our family. Without the inquest, we’re still waiting for answers and some level of understanding around what happened. It makes it very difficult to process everything and move forward.
"More broadly, it’s hard to understand how families can be left waiting this long without clear timelines or accountability when delays happen. At this point, we just want clarity and for the inquest to finally take place.”
Sinn Fein’s Senator Chris Andrews said that the delay is tough on Gary Ward’s family, adding: “They cannot get any real closure.”
He recently told the Seanad: “Nearly three years later, there has still been no inquest and this is very upsetting for the family. There has been radio silence from the coroner's office.
"I know there are issues with resources for the coroner's office but three years of a delay is lamentable. It is very unfair on the family. The coroner's office is clearly not fit for purpose and a three-year wait is simply unacceptable.”
It is the latest concern being raised about the coroner system and the wider death investigation process in Ireland at present.
Delays in post mortem examinations are being experienced in some parts of the country, including Limerick and Waterford, because of a shortage of pathology staff for post mortem examinations.
A statement from the Department of Justice said that coroners are independent office holders and that the department has no role in directing their work during their investigation of any death.
The statement added: “A decision to hold an inquest and, thereafter, any decision in respect of the operation of the inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner. Neither the Minister of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration or his Department can interfere with a coroner in the exercise of their statutory function.”
However, it said that government approval was given in October 2024 for the drafting of a general scheme of a bill aimed at reforming the current coroner service “to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people”.
The legislation is expected to be brought before the government in the coming months, according to the department.
The statement said that a central aspect of the reform of the service is the establishment of a national coroner service.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
