An inquest on the Isle of Wight is set to be concluded, nearly six years after the death of an elderly man.
Delays within the Island's Coroner's Office has led to the county having one of the largest backlogs in the country.
Data released earlier in the year showed families on the Island were waiting, on average, 63 weeks for an inquest. However, many have been waiting for several years.
The inquest into the death of Eric Steel, 79, who died on October 16, 2018, is only now being held.
It will be a Section 9C inquest, which can be concluded in writing rather than in public.
It has been announced on the Coroner's website and will now be completed within 21 days of that announcement.
The long wait being endured by bereaved Island families has long been documented.
A Coroner will undertake an inquest if the cause of death is unknown or if the person possibly died a violent or unnatural death, or died in custody.
In March, it was announced that a new coroner's court would be created on the Island. The Isle of Wight Council had set aside more than £80,000 to redevelop the first floor of its offices at Seaclose, Newport.
It was hoped the first inquests will be held at Seaclose by September 2024, but this has yet to happen. Usually, the coroner uses the courts on Quay Street, Newport.
Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, previously said: "The new facilities at Seaclose will allow the coroners service to have readily available access to a court, which will facilitate the hearing of cases more efficiently, helping to minimise any stress or uncertainty which can come with waiting for an inquest and ensuring that families of the bereaved have their inquests at the earliest opportunity."
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Last Updated:
Report this comment Cancel