By Isle of Wight Observer
The IW Observer has received another wave of responses following last week’s report on IW Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, receiving a formal warning for misconduct — and the stories emerging are deeply troubling.
One of the most heart-breaking came from Valerie Wharmby, of Shanklin, whose husband, Bill, died in June 2019 – but six years later she is still waiting for an inquest date.
Valerie, who was married to Bill for 59 years, says she simply wants closure and to make sure this doesn’t happen to other Islanders. “I miss him every day,” she told us. “I always will. Nothing will change that – but I need answers. I’ve never heard of such a delay; it’s a disgrace and the coroner ought to be sacked.”
Another Islander, who has waited three years for an inquest into her husband’s death, asked us to raise respectful, factual questions on her behalf. Ms Sumeray responded that it was ‘not appropriate’ for anyone other than a solicitor or barrister to contact her. Yet, remarkably, the inquest report was issued just 11 days later.
Yet the most startling and perhaps telling response came within hours of last week’s IW Observer hitting the shelves. Ms Sumeray can certainly move quickly when she wants to sort out something she thinks important. We received a legal threat from a top London law firm demanding we remove references to bullying allegations – despite the fact they had misrepresented what had happened. We’ve asked for clarification, but they’ve gone quiet. You can read the correspondence at iw.observer/legal-threat.
MP, Joe Robertson, is urging Islanders affected by inquest delays or other problems to file complaints with the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office so that the authorities finally realise the full scale of the problem. The link is at iw.observer/coroner-complaints.
We’re also organising a private support meeting with both Island MPs, Joe Robertson (IW East) and Richard Quigley (IW West). To be included, please email newsdesk@iwobserver.co.uk, or call 221050. No details of the meeting or anybody who attends will be published.
