Vol. 502 No. 2
42 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, being taken to ensure a death certificate will be issued for a person (details supplied) in County Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the length of time since time of death and the ongoing distress of the family. [7477/99]
43 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an inquest is to be held into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Derry; the reason for the delay in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7478/99]
44 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in relation to a mur der investigation (details supplied); the number of people arrested; the number of people charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7479/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 to 44, inclusive, together.
The Deputy may be assured that the case to which she refers has been raised frequently through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Following further recent inquiries by the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat, the British side have confirmed that seven people were arrested in connection with the case but all were subsequently released. There have been no charges as yet and the investigation is continuing.
In relation to the specific question of an inquest raised by the Deputy, the British authorities have stated that the decision as to whether and when to hold an inquest is a matter for the discretion of the coroner. They add that the coroner is presently not in a position to consider whether to hold an inquest into the death of the person in question as he has not yet received all the relevant papers. The British side have also indicated that coroners in Northern Ireland usually await the outcome of any police investigation before deciding whether to hold an inquest. In this case, the coroner has been advised that the RUC investigation is ongoing.
The British authorities have also indicated that the referral of a death to the coroner normally leads to some delay in the issuing of a death certificate. The principal reasons for this are the need for an investigation into the circumstances of the death which may ultimately lead to criminal proceedings, the need for a post-mortem examination and ultimately an inquest hearing. I can assure the Deputy that the Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor this case closely.
