Phil Scraton: Significant reform of Irish coronial system is long overdue

No system is in place to ensure inquest recommendations, aimed at preventing recurrence of avoidable deaths, are implemented

Professor Phil Scraton, best known for his investigative research into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and his work on social justice campaigns, says the rights and needs of bereaved families and the duty to serve the public interest are consistently failed in investigating unexpected deaths.

A loved one’s death in unexpected or contested circumstances is faced daily and randomly by families in our communities. 

Without knowledge or preparation for the processes of inquiry which come to dominate their lives, bereaved families assume that the truth regarding how and why their loved one died will be revealed. In this process they expect compassion and understanding. It affects us all — today ‘them’, tomorrow ‘us’.