The Coroner.

Coroners are independent public officials whose function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths.

In many cases, they will arrange for a post-mortem to be carried out to help them come to a conclusion. Where a coroner believes that a death was violent, unnatural or happened suddenly and from unknown causes, they will hold an inquest to establish the facts of how the person died. The function of the inquest is not to decide if someone is legally responsible for the person's death. It is solely to establish the “who, when, where and how” of their death.  The Minister for Justice has no role in individual coroner investigations or inquests. 

Sudden, unnatural, violent or unexplained deaths have to be reported to the Coroner.

Doctors, funeral undertakers, the Register of Deaths, any householder and every person in charge of an institution or premises where the person who died was residing at the time of death have to inform the Coroner. Deaths are reported to the Coroner under the Coroners Act, 1962 (rules of law); in addition, there are local rules which require that other deaths must be reported (rules of practice).

Sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths.

Where the appropriate registered medical practitioner cannot sign a medical certificate of the cause of death (i.e. a deceased person was not seen and treated within one month before death, or the cause of death is unknown or death may be due to an unnatural cause).

Even where the deceased had been attended by a registered medical practitioner for a documented illness, if the doctor is not satisfied in relation to the cause of death or death has occurred suddenly or unexpectedly, it must be reported.

Sudden infant death.  Although the doctor may believe that an infant has died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS "cot death"), such diagnosis can only be made following a post-mortem examination:  this applies also to so-called "sudden adult death syndrome" (SADS).

Where a death was directly or indirectly due to unnatural causes (regardless of the length of time between injury and death), including;

  • Road traffic crash or collision;
  • Any accident in the home, workplace or elsewhere;
  • Any physical injury;
  • Falls and fractures;
  • Fractures in the elderly;
  • Drug overdose or drug abuse;
  • Neglect, including self-neglect;
  • Burns or carbon monoxide poisoning;
  • Starvation (including anorexia nervosa);
  • Exposure and hypothermia;
  • Poisoning from any cause – occupational, therapeutic, accidental, suicidal, homicidal and also food poisoning;
  • Drowning;
  • Hanging;
  • Firearms injuries.
  • Death resulting from an industrial or occupational disease or accident.
  • Deaths which are directly or indirectly the result of any surgical or medical treatment or any procedure.  Where such treatment or procedure may have contributed in any way to death, the matter must be reported to the Coroner regardless of the time that has elapsed between the event and death.  Any allergic reaction to a drug administered therapeutically, and any toxic reaction or side-effect of a drug which may have caused or contributed to a death must be reported.
  • Where there is any allegation of medical negligence, misconduct or malpractice on the part of any registered medical practitioner, nurse or other person.
  • Septicaemia which may be caused by injury.
  • Death occurring during a surgical operation or anaesthesia.
  • Abortions (other than natural) and certain stillbirths.
  • Acute alcohol poisoning (chronic alcoholism is reportable, but a medical certificate of the cause of death will normally be accepted, unless there is some element of neglect [including self-neglect] or injury).
  • Deaths connected with crime or suspected crime.
  • Where death may be due to homicide or occurred in suspicious circumstances.
  • Death of a person in prison or legal custody, including deaths in hospital whilst sentence is being served and deaths in Garda stations.
  • Death of a patient in a mental hospital.
  • Death of a child in care or detention.
  • A death which may be due to CJD or CV19.
  • Where a person is found dead.
  • Where human remains are found.
  • Where the cause of death is unknown or obscure.
  • Where a body is to be removed from the state.
  • Where a person is brought in dead (BID, DOA, dead on arrival) to the Accident and Emergency department of a hospital.
  • Deaths occurring in an Accident and Emergency department.
  • Where death occurs within 24 hours of admission to hospital.
  • Where death occurs within 24 hours of the administration of an anaesthetic, surgical procedure or any procedure. (Note where death may be due to a complication of an anaesthetic, surgical procedure, drug reaction or injury it must be reported to the Coroner notwithstanding when death occurs, i.e. whether days, weeks, months or years after the event).
  • Certain deaths which occur in a department of a hospital, e.g. radiology department, out-patients, physiotherapy, E.C.G., E.E.G., etc.
  • Maternal deaths.
  • Where a patient dies in hospital, having been recently transferred or discharged from a nursing home or other residential institution (including mental hospital or prison).
  • Where there is any doubt as to the cause of death.
  • A death in any public or private institution for the care of elderly or infirm persons.
  • Any death involving a healthcare associated infection.