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 at Museum Street,  Warrington, WA1 1JX.

Inquest openings, adjournments, written inquests, and open and close Inquest hearings, from 9am on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at Cheshire Coroners Court, Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JX:

Inquest openings:

Sylvia Williams

Christopher John Lock

Robin McCracken Cochrane

Andrew John Wright

Peter Charlotte

Janet Michie

Susan Ellis

Declan George Andrew Mather

Steven David John Minton

John Jones

Derek Astles

Timothy Mark Burgess

Nigel Woods

Benjamin Francis Thomas

Martin James Halsall

Alice Elizabeth Taylor Penny

Phyllis Yarwood

Hazel Jean Alexander

 

Open and close inquest hearings:

Malcolm Edward Bower

 

Written inquests:

Michael Reginald Tirebuck

Jack Antony Hannon

 

Suspensions / Adjournments:

 

Treasure inquest openings:

None listed

Inquest hearings in the next seven days

Inquest hearings
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Patrick Thomas TAIT
Age:
22
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Alexander Frodsham, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Andrew PEDLEY
Age:
22
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Elizabeth Wheeler, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
Yes
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Gemma Louise GREGORY
Age:
32
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Elizabeth Wheeler, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
Yes
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: John Andrew DAWSON
Age:
50
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish, Senior Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
12:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Simon Francis ALMEIDA-VEGA
Age:
49
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish, Senior Coroner
Hearing type:
R.23 Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
1400
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Madeline Warburton
Age:
74
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish, Senior Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
12:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Stephen Andrew O'DONNELL
Age:
33
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Victoria Davies, Area Coroner
Hearing type:
Pre-Inquest review hearing
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
85
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: Museum Street
Of: Michael Stanley DAVIES
Age:
85
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Victoria Davies, Area Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No

31 October 2024

Coroners

Senior coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish BA (Hons), DipFMS

Area coroners:
Victoria Davies LLB (Hons)

 

Contact

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

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