By Carole Dennett
Concern is growing over the Isle of Wight Coroner’s service, after IW East MP, Joe Robertson, raised the issue in Parliament, following last week’s IW Observer coverage of the personal toll delays are having on bereaved families.
During Justice Questions on Tuesday, Mr Robertson highlighted how the Island’s coroner backlog is the worst in the country. One case we featured last week involved Mo Baxter, who has now waited 800 days (over 114 weeks) for an inquest into the tragic death of his long-term partner, Nichola Merrick.
In February, the coroner, Caroline Sumeray, refused even to confirm to Mo in which year the hearing would take place.
The average inquest wait time on the Island in 2024 was 76 weeks – longer than any other area in England and Wales – and there are indications that it is getting even worse.
Mr Robertson described the distress caused to families enduring 800 days waiting for answers, and asked the Justice Minister to meet with him to discuss solutions. In reply, Alex Davies-Jones confirmed she had already raised the issue with the Chief Coroner and acknowledged the “untold turmoil” caused. She agreed to meet Mr Robertson to discuss ways forward and confirmed action was being taken.
Ms Sumeray has cited factors including a shortage of pathologists willing to do her work, major Island events, and a large prison population as contributing factors to delays. However, parliamentary questions revealed that no prison inquests have started for at least two years. IW Observer’s requests for further detail on the reasons given were rejected outright on the basis that “the coroner’s function is exempt from the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act.”
Ms Sumeray’s website shows only 18 inquests are currently scheduled – one dating back 207 weeks to a death on 20 June 2021. Only one public inquest is scheduled, set for January 2026. With no information given on the reasons for delays, she has also refused to disclose how many deaths have been referred to her with no inquest yet scheduled.
Mr Robertson said: “This heart-breaking situation cannot be allowed to continue. I’ve received too many complaints and distressing stories.”
At the recent State of the Island Debate, held jointly by the IW Observer and Island Echo, senior figures described the coroner and her service as “not fit for purpose” and families are demanding accountability.
Despite investment in a dedicated courtroom at Seaclose Park, questions remain over her leadership and effectiveness. For example, the coroner recently claimed Mr Robertson broke the law by publishing a photo of her newly-refurbished empty courtroom – but she has made no comment about the same image appearing on our front page last week.
Following last week’s coverage, a number of families and others have contacted us with their stories and we will publish further details about this issue in future editions.
If you’ve been affected by delays or other issues at the IW Coroner’s office, then get in touch via newsdesk@iwobserver.co.uk or call us on 221050. Anybody affected by the death of a loved one can contact the Island branch of Cruse Bereavement Support on 523030, or email them at isleofwight@cruse.org.uk.