The Role of the Coroner in Fatal Fires

• Medicolegal Death Investigation

• Sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural death

• Article 2 European Convention of Human Rights

Death Investigation

• Coronial system

• Medical examiner

• Procurator fiscal

• Magistrate

• Forensic service

• Police

• An inquest must be held in all unnatural deaths.

• All fire deaths must be reported to the district coroner.

• An inquest must be held.

• Domestic/industrial fires

• Arson/homicide

• Major disasters

Major Disaster

• Incident involving multiple fatalities

• Requires special arrangements to be made

• Report to coroner

• Preliminary inquiry

• Autopsy

Identification

• Visual/body characteristics

• Photographic

• Fingerprinting

• Dental charting

• DNA profiling

• Preservation and forensic examination of scene

• Statements of witnesses

• Are there any suspicious circumstances?

Autopsy

• Hospital pathologist

• Forensic pathologist

• Toxicology

• Special examination

• Medical reports

• Hospital chart

Toxicology

• Carbon monoxide

• Cyanides

• Alcohol levels

• Drug screen

Cause of Death

• Burns

• Carbon monoxide poisoning (smoke)

• Inhalation injury

• Infection

• Multiorgan failure

• Other causes

Inquest

• Public hearing

• Inquisitorial (not adversarial)

• Interested persons

• Circumstances of death

• Findings/verdict

• Recommendations

Witnesses

• Identification witness (or forensic evidence in relation to identification)

• Witnesses who can give evidence in relation to the circumstances of the fire

• Person who last saw the deceased alive• Members of the fire service and rescue teams• Scenes examiner• Investigating Garda• Pathologist

Verdict

• Accident

• Misadventure

• Suicide

• Homicide (unlawful killing)

• Open verdict

• Natural causes

• Certificate for death registration

• Follow-up on any recommendations made by the coroner or jury