At an inquest into the death of a civilian apparently shot by police officers, the officers applied for anonymity, which the coroner refused. They sought judicial review.
Held: How witnesses participated in coroners inquests was to be decided on a case by case basis. A witness seeking anonymity had to establish both a subjective fear and reasonable objective grounds. Once those were established, the court could carry out a balancing exercise. In this case the coroner had failed to ask the two first questions together. In this case the request was that anonimity be preserved until the announcement of the verdict. This would protect the officers’ families and seemed to meet the demands of justice.
Judges:
Mitting J
Citations:
Times 12-Jul-2004
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – A and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Lord Saville of Newdigate and others CA 28-Jul-1999
Former soldiers who had been involved in the events in Londonderry in 1972, and were to be called to give evidence before a tribunal of inquiry, still had cause to fear from their names being given, and so were entitled to anonymity when giving such . .
Cited – Regina v Governor of Pentonville Prison, Ex parte Fernandez: Fernandez v Government of Singapore HL 1971
Test for police protection need
The court considered the degree of risk to an individual which should give rise to a duty on the police to protect him under article 2.
Held: Lord Diplock said: ‘My Lords, bearing in mind the relative gravity of the consequences of the court’s . .
Appealed to – Regina (A and Another) v Inner South London Coroner CA 2-Nov-2004
Police officers sought anonymity when asked to appear before a coroner’s court, citing fear of violence if named. The family of the deceased appealed an order granting that to them.
Held: The coroner had heard evidence that a family member had . .
Cited by:
Appeal from – Regina (A and Another) v Inner South London Coroner CA 2-Nov-2004
Police officers sought anonymity when asked to appear before a coroner’s court, citing fear of violence if named. The family of the deceased appealed an order granting that to them.
Held: The coroner had heard evidence that a family member had . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Coroners
Updated: 16 May 2022; Ref: scu.199972