Coroner given warning over four-year inquest delay

A lack of suitable accommodation was one factor in the delay, the coroner said

The coroner for the Isle of Wight has been given a formal warning after a family waited four years for an inquest.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) received a complaint about the conduct of Caroline Sumeray from a relative of the person who died in 2020.

Coroners are meant to complete an inquest within six months of being made aware of a death or "as soon as is reasonably practicable".

Senior Coroner Sumeray said severe long-term staffing issues, a lack of suitable court premises and difficulties with responses provided by a third party had been factors in the delay.

She also said the knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and personal circumstances attributed to the time.

But the nominated judge for the JCIO disagreed and said there was no "reasonable explanation" for the extent of the delay, believing the inquest should have been held by the end of 2022.

In its judgement, the statement from the nominated judge said the failure to hold the inquest, almost two years after it should have been held, amounted to misconduct and issued Senior Coroner Sumeray with a formal warning.

That was upheld by the Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor although they acknowledged Ms Sumeray's unblemished conduct record.

In a statement, Isle of Wight Council acknowledged its part in failing to deliver staffing and accommodation to enable the coroner's service to function effectively.

It said both the council and Senior Coroner Sumeray "fully recognise and regret the distress caused by delays ... particularly for bereaved families".

It added it was working "collaboratively" on a recovery plan, to deal with the backlog of cases and long-term staffing issues.

In March 2024, the council said it planned to redevelop the first floor of its offices at Seaclose park to provide long overdue Coroners' Court facilities.