Think about grieving families at inquests – Nelson Murray

Senator Linda Nelson Murray has asked for compassion and respect from all involved in inquest proceedings for the grieving families left behind.

Senator Nelson Murray said public inquests are a very important aspect and factor of Irish life.

“Public inquests serve a very important role in our country. We absolutely need them to help conclude and explain the circumstances behind a sudden, unexplained or violent death.

“Those who work diligently at inquests should be afforded every right to do their job, be they the coroner, members of the emergency services, journalists, the jury who considers the evidence or whoever may be called before them to testify,” the Meath Senator said.

“Unfortunately, as inquests are centrally focussed on a death and the reasons behind it, they can be a very trying ordeal and event for the deceased person’s family and indeed those who may have tried to help the deceased at the time of their death.

“We need to be compassionate and respectful of those left behind at all times, while at the same time, allowing people carry out their work at the inquests.

“I have been involved in a case with a local family in Meath where an inquest took place in 2023 into the sudden death of their dad. During the inquest, much detail of the deceased was shared in the court.

“Inquests are public, and families are asked to be there where the death and personal details of the deceased can be outlined in great detail – be it their health details or what they may have consumed before the death.

“Families are quite often unprepared for such detail to be read into the count record and need to be informed beforehand of the process of an inquest and what may happen.

“Those working at inquests provide a very important public service – be they the coroner, members of the ambulance service, gardaí or media professionals.

“I would hope that the information about a deceased individual should not be laid bare for the public without context and compassion for the family.

“At a time of immense grief, the public scrutiny of an inquest risks intensifying the pain of those left behind them. We need to be mindful of what details are put before the inquest.

“The Press Ombudsman has a code of practice and in section 5 it deals in particular with privacy and in section 5.3 it states: Sympathy and discretion must be shown at all times in seeking information in situations of personal grief or shock. In publishing such information, the feelings of grieving families should be taken into account.

Senator Nelson Murray said, “We are very lucky to be served in this country with excellent journalists who go about their work in a respectful and dignified manner in difficult circumstances – long may this continue and I will fully support this.

“But we must also be mindful of the pain of the families and loved ones left behind and what they may hear at an inquest.

“I understand there is to be a review of the Press Ombudsman’s code of practice in the Autumn. I hope the considerations of the families of the deceased will play a central role in this,” Senator Nelson Murray said.