Counting the costs to attend Coroners Court

The costs of having legal representation at an inquest will be not less than €1,000 and may exceed that in certain cases, however, legal aid is not available for most inquests, writes Sarah McNulty

An inquest is called without requiring the consent of next of kin or families of the deceased. It is done in the public interest — it is going ahead whether the widow, for example, wants it to or not.

DEATH is the unwanted visitor to any family. A death which requires a formal hearing, known as an inquest, to identify the cause of death, is not only the unwanted, but in all bar none, the unexpected.

The crude reality, if you look beyond the trauma or loss, is that the unexpected death brings with it unexpected financial demands which are without doubt for so many families across Ireland, an aggravating factor in addition to the grief. Financial pressure is widely accepted as being a key stressor of anxiety, stress, and depression. Most can relate to the school of thought that says such turmoil is only heightened during periods of emotional and mental vulnerability. Adding unexpected expense to the melting pot only serves to compound the grief.