What is a Coroner?

Coroners are independent judicial office holders. Most Coroners are qualified lawyers but some are doctors.

In Cheshire, we have a full time Senior Coroner and an Area Coroner. The Area Coroner is the Senior Coroner’s deputy, Cheshire also has several Assistant Coroners. Area and Assistant Coroners are qualified in the same way as the Senior Coroner. They have the same authority as a Senior Coroner when dealing with deaths and hearing inquests.

The role of the Coroner

Coroners will investigate where a death was violent or unnatural, where the cause of death is unknown, where the deceased died in custody or otherwise in state detention, or if the death requires investigation for some other reason.

When a Coroner receives notification that a body is lying within their Coroner area, they will carry out inquiries and investigations as appropriate. Coroners have power to have a body taken to the mortuary and to retain the body for so long as is required to carry out investigations. This can include authorising a post-mortem examination in order to find out what was the medical cause of death.

The nature and extent of the Coroner’s investigations will vary depending upon the case. This may involve consulting with the doctor who last treated the person who has died, and a post‑mortem examination may be needed, in some cases the Coroner will open an investigation or an inquest.

The Coroner will always be mindful of funeral arrangements and will try to avoid interfering with these arrangements while making sure that all appropriate investigations are properly carried out.

Coroner’s staff

In Cheshire, the Coroners are supported by a team of administrative staff, as well as a team of Coroner’s Officers. The administrative staff are employed by the council and the Coroner’s Officers are employed by Cheshire Police.

The Coroner’s Officers receive reports of deaths and they make various inquiries on behalf of the Coroner. Coroner’s Officers communicate with the deceased person’s relatives on behalf of the Coroner. If the Coroner opens an investigation or an inquest into a person’s death, a Coroner’s Officer will be nominated to be the personal point of contact with the next of kin or the family of the person who has died.

The police

If an inquest is opened into a death, a police officer may contact the family of the person who has died. This does not necessarily mean that there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. It may simply be that a statement is required to be taken or that other evidence is required to be obtained on behalf of the Coroner. The police may take the statement or obtain the evidence on the Coroner’s behalf.

Inquests

Inquest hearings are held at the Coroner’s Court. In Cheshire, the main Coroner’s Court is located in Warrington at the Coroner’s Office. Inquests are also held in St James Business Centre, which is also located in Warrington.

In Cheshire, the Coroner’s Court is located in St James Business Centre, Warrington. Inquests are also held in the West Annexe of Warrington Town Hall.

Unfortunately the court move to Museum Street has been unavoidably delayed.  All cases listed between 5 March and 22 March will be heard in the courts at either St James’ Business Centre or the West Annexe.  The website shows the correct venue but if you have any queries please contact the office.

 

The court will transition to Museum Street week commencing 25 March, although cases will continue to be heard at the West Annexe until week commencing 2 April 2024.

Inquest openings

Inquest openings, adjournments, written inquests and open and close Inquest hearings, from 9am on Wednesday 3 April 2024, at Cheshire Coroners Court, Museum Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1JX: 

Inquest openings:

 

Peter David Tomlinson

Kenneth David Shaw

Louise Marie Hickling

Terence Barber

Ashley Ward-Dutton

Andrew Parkinson

Charles Henry Daniels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open and close inquest hearings:

 

Christopher Graham Smyth

Gladys Lorraine Carter

Michael O'Donoghue

June Donoghue

Deborah Agnes Rea-Taylor

David Byrom

Dorothy Jenkins

Paul Alan Critchley

 

Written inquest

 

 

 

 

Suspensions / Adjournments:

 

Peter Michael Kirkham

Asad Ali Rashid

 

 

Treasure inquest openings:

 

 

Inquest hearings in the next seven days

Inquest hearings

There are no inquests in the next 7 days

Coroners

Senior coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish BA (Hons), DipFMS

Area coroners:
Victoria Davies LLB (Hons)

 

Contact

Coroner’s Office, St James Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington
WA4 6PS

Administration office:
Telephone: 01925 444216
email: coronersadminteam@warrington.gov.uk

Coroner's officers:
Telephone: 01606 363892
email: coroners@cheshire.police.uk

Office hours:
Monday to Thursday - 8:30am to 4:30pm
Friday - 8:30am to 4pm

 

New offices

From Monday 25 March 2024, Cheshire Coroner’s Court will be based at Museum Street.

Our new address will be:

Cheshire Coroner's Service, Museum Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1JX