Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
89. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocol of An Garda Síochána for notifying the coroner at the weekend and out of office hours of a suspicious death. [47398/14]
View answer90. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if is it the responsibility of An Garda Síochána or the coroner to notify the Office of the State Pathologist. [47399/14]
View answer91. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána or the coroner to direct the removal of a body from a scene where the cause of death is unknown but appears suspicious. [47400/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 91, inclusive, together.
Section 18(3) of the Coroners Act, 1962, places an obligation on an Inspector or Officer of the Garda Síochána, if he or she becomes aware of the death within the district of a coroner of any person in whose case a medical certificate of the cause of death is not procurable, to inform the coroner of such death. This notification should be made to the coroner as soon as practicable.
Section 33(2) of the Act provides that a coroner may request a post-mortem examination by the State Pathologist to be arranged. In cases where a member of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of Inspector, applies to the coroner for a post-mortem to be conducted he or she is obliged to request that the post-mortem be conducted by the State Pathologist.
Section 46 of the Coroners Act, 1962, provides that where a coroner considers it necessary to hold an inquest on, or a post-mortem examination of, the body of a deceased person, he or she may direct that the body be removed into a convenient mortuary or morgue or other suitable place (whether inside or outside his or her district) and kept therein until he or she otherwise directs, and may make such arrangements for the removal of the body as he or she considers necessary or desirable.
