By Carole Dennett
IW Coroner Caroline Sumeray has received a formal warning for misconduct from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) following a complaint about a four-year delay in completing an inquest. It is the only disciplinary warning issued for inquest delays in England or Wales over the past six years.
The JCIO investigation acknowledged challenges cited by Ms Sumeray – including staffing shortages, lack of court facilities, third-party delays, and personal circumstances – but decided there was no reasonable explanation for the extent of the delay. The investigating judge found the inquest should have been held by the end of 2022, and the failure amounted to misconduct. By law, coroners must complete an inquest within six months after they are notified of a death, or “as soon as possible afterwards.” The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor agreed with the findings and issued a formal warning.
Although the warning related only to Ms Sumeray’s misconduct, the IW Council also apologised for staffing and accommodation problems which contributed to the problem. A spokesman added that the coroner accepted the formal warning and she and the council were working together to improve the situation.
This week, Ms Sumeray held hearings for three inquests relating to deaths dating back as far as 2020. The IW Observer has previously reported on the growing backlog of cases, with families waiting years for answers and closure after losing loved ones. In 2024, the average wait for an inquest on the Isle of Wight reached 76 weeks—more than double the national average.
IW East MP, Joe Robertson, has raised the issue in Parliament, calling for urgent action. Despite investment in a new courtroom at Seaclose, the facility remained underused until this week, and questions persist about the coroner’s conduct and leadership, particularly in relation to staff, with various sources claiming there have been accusations of bullying. The IW Council refused to comment on the claims.
In May Ms Sumeray issued a press release claiming prison deaths and a high number of fatal road accidents among the reasons for the delays. She refused to answer questions about her comments. However, parliamentary questions tabled by Mr Robertson reveal that only two inquests into prison deaths and one into a fatal road accident were completed in 2024 – suggesting the issues may contribute to the backlog, but do not explain the scale of the delays.
Despite the dismal service, the coroner’s office has cost Isle of Wight taxpayers over £1 million annually for the past four years, with staffing costs rising by 47 per cent – from £132,000 to £194,000 – during that time. Ms Sumeray, who does not live on the Island, last week confessed to one bereaved family she was “struggling”. Responding to a Freedom of Information request submitted on June 26, the IW Council failed to give accurate details of Ms Sumeray’s salary, but did release information that suggested her total package (including pension contributions) is worth around £204,000, with a salary range up to £148,000.
Mr Robertson said: “I am not surprised a misconduct finding has been made against the coroner for an unjustified delay. The judge decided there was no reasonable explanation for the extent of the delay in this inquest, despite Ms Sumeray arguing to the contrary. This is in line with my own opinion about the excessive backlog on the Island more generally – that there is no reasonable explanation why things this bad, and she needs to take responsibility. Grieving families on the Island deserve so much better.
“I urge anyone affected by long delays or other unacceptable conduct related to an inquest to make a formal complaint.”
You can find out more and lodge a complaint via iw.observer/coroner-complaints. They must be submitted within six months of the alleged misconduct. Complaints about outcomes of inquests cannot be accepted.
You can also contact us at newsdesk@iwobserver.co.uk or call 522210 if you’d like to help us build a clearer picture of the current situation.
