MP receives many complaints about the IW Coroner

by Joe Robertson

The backlog of cases awaiting the Isle of Wight Coroner is now the worst in the country, with families waiting an average of 76 weeks for inquests. It wasn’t always this way – the wait time was 19 weeks in 2019.

We know that our coroner lives on the mainland and has demonstrated a preference for using mainland pathologists over Island ones. She chose not to sit in person during some of Covid, which was not a universal decision by coroners up and down the country. It is therefore hardly surprising that my inbox has been filled with complaints about the IW Coroner from frustrated and distressed families and her former employees.

Clearly something is not working. That is why I decided to meet with the coroner myself and hear what plans she has in place to tackle the backlog.

During our meeting, which included the Chief Executive of the IW Council, I visited the newly- refurbished courtroom at Seaclose Park, funded by Island taxpayers at very high cost. I am told it is not routine for a coroner to have their own court, so the facilities on the Island are particularly good.

My priority is simple: reduce the backlog and alleviate the stress and suffering faced by bereaved families, some of whom are waiting years to find out what happened to their loved ones.

I did not leave my meeting with the coroner with a clear sense that the backlog would be reduced any time soon and, indeed, it appeared possible it might get worse in the short term. The coroner set out certain challenges she says she faces, like having a high prison population in our patch (all prison deaths must go through the coroner); however, through written Parliamentary Questions submitted by Baroness Hodgson, I have learned that the IW Coroner’s Service has not concluded a single prison-related case in over two years (despite 19 prison deaths occurring in that time).

Listening to the harrowing stories from bereaved families is powerful motivation not to let these issues rest or be blown off course by side issues like a published photograph of an empty court room paid for by Island residents. I fear that the sad stories I have heard, including the two in the IW Observer this week, represent just the tip of the iceberg. Not everybody feels able to share such deeply personal information publicly.

I thank Sinead Jackson and Mo Gibson for being willing to share their story with Islanders. They give some idea of the pain that is caused by the delays and other issues with the IW Coroner’s office. I have taken this issue in person direct to the relevant Justice Minister.

This heart-breaking situation for so many, with an apparent lack of urgency to resolve it, cannot be allowed to continue.