Coroners

Coroners record and investigate sudden, unexpected and violent deaths. His Majesty's Senior Coroner for North Wales (East and Central) covering Denbighshire, Conwy, Wrexham and Flintshire, is Mr John Gittins LL.B (Hons) Solicitor.

Not all deaths are reported to the coroner, in most cases, a GP or hospital doctor can issue a Medical Certificate of the cause of death so that it can be registered by the registrar. 

When is a coroner involved?

A death should be reported to the coroner when a doctor knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the death: 

  • Occurred as a result of poisoning, the use of a controlled drug, medicinal product, or toxic chemical; 
  • Occurred as a result of trauma, violence or physical injury, whether inflicted intentionally or otherwise;
  • Is related to any treatment or procedure of a medical or similar nature;
  • Occurred as a result of self-harm, (including a failure by the deceased person to preserve their own life) whether intentional or otherwise;
  • Occurred as a result of injury or disease received during, or attributable to, the course of the deceased person’s work;
  • Occurred as a result of a notifiable accident, poisoning, or disease;
  • Occurred as a result of neglect or failure of care by another person;
  • Was otherwise unnatural.

The coroner should also be informed where:

  • The death occurred in custody or otherwise in state detention – of whatever cause;
  • No attending practitioner attended the deceased at any time in the 14 days prior to death or no attending practitioner is available within a reasonable period to prepare an MCCD; 
  • The identity of the deceased is unknown;
  • The cause of death is unknown.

When a death has been reported to the coroner the registrar must wait for the coroner to finish his enquiries before the death can be registered. These enquiries may take time, so it is always best to contact the coroner’s office before any funeral arrangements are made. 

What does the coroner do?

Coroners will look to establish the medical cause of death. If the cause remains in doubt after a post mortem, an inquest will be held. If the examination shows death to have been a natural one, there may be no need for an inquest and the coroner will send a form to the registrar of deaths so that the death can be registered by the relatives and a certificate of burial issued by the registrar.

Inquests

An inquest is held to record:

  • Who the deceased was
  • When, where and how he or she came by the medical cause of death 

When a conclusion is reached, the coroner records the details needed for the registration of the death.

An inquest does not determine any question of civil liability or criminal liability on the part of a named person.

Forthcoming inquests

Select a date to see inquests taking place that day:

It is an offence to make any recordings or take photographs within the Court Room or the Court building.
Tuesday 7 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

David George Lord

  • Age: 72
  • Place and date of death: Royal Stoke Hospital, 14 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

Lynne Elaine Moffat

  • Age: 72
  • Place and date of death: Royal Stoke Hospital, 15 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 11am

Patricia Anne Woodhouse

  • Age: 101
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 15 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 12 noon

David Bonner

  • Age: 87
  • Place and date of death: Shotton, 14 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 2pm

Jamie David Wynne

  • Age: 28
  • Place and date of death: Hope, 16 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 3pm

Paul Stuart Topham

  • Age: 44
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 8 August 2022
  • Time of inquest: 4pm
Friday 10 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Cyril Thomas Hughes

  • Age: 87
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 13 May 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

Mandy Catherine Morris

  • Age: 57
  • Place and date of death: Holywell, 18 May 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10:45am

Nathan Alec Roland Maddocks

  • Age: 32
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham, 8 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 11:30am

John Arthur Espley

  • Age: 83
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 5 August 2022
  • Time of inquest: 12:15pm

Sean Yates

  • Age: 55
  • Place and date of death: Holywell, 5 June 2021
  • Time of inquest: 2pm
Tuesday 14 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Carl Williams

  • Age: 81
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 19 July 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

Gary Monaghan

  • Age: 74
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham, 30 August 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10:45am

Allan Stephen Jones

  • Age: 73
  • Place and date of death: Llandudno, 8 December 2022
  • Time of inquest: 12 noon

David Colin Strachen

  • Age: 76
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 16 March 2022
  • Time of inquest: 2pm
Thursday 16 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Susan Dorothy Hughes

  • Age: 46
  • Place and date of death: Flint, 6 June 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

James Graham Shaw

  • Age: 84
  • Place and date of death: Deganwy, 11 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 11am

David Jones

  • Age: 80
  • Place and date of death: Penmaenmawr, 24 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 12 noon

Helen Bartley Parry

  • Age: 76
  • Place and date of death: Colwyn Bay, 18 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 2pm

Fiona Elizabeth Dehghani

  • Age: 42
  • Place and date of death: Ysbyty Gwynedd, 21 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 3pm

Sara Baines

  • Age: 34
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 19 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 4pm
Friday 17 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Edward Tierney

  • Age: 55
  • Place and date of death: Mold 8 November 2019
  • Time of inquest: 10am
Wednesday 22 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Irene Ball

  • Age: 93
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 28 November 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

Cyril Leonard Powell

  • Age: 87
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 22 October 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10:45am

Michael Ryan Mannion

  • Age: 29
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 26 May 2022
  • Time of inquest: 11:30am

Pamela Wreford

  • Age: 90
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 19 October 2022
  • Time of inquest: 2pm

David Hamill

  • Age: 42
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham, 11 May 2022
  • Time of inquest: 3pm
Thursday 23 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Haydn Owen Hughes

  • Age: 70
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 20 December 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

Valerie Linda Guy

  • Age: 80
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 22 July 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10:45am

Eric Guest

  • Age: 89
  • Place and date of death: Stoke Hospital, 24 June 2021
  • Time of inquest: 11:30am

Ivy Catherine Jones

  • Age: 85
  • Place and date of death: Denbigh Hospital, 27 December 2021
  • Time of inquest: 2pm
Tuesday 28 February 2023

Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

George Henry Scheers

  • Age: 87
  • Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 4 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 10am

John Newton Price

  • Age: 81
  • Place and date of death: Buckley, 20 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 11am

Belinda Edwards

  • Age: 43
  • Place and date of death: Deeside, 2 February 2022
  • Time of inquest: 12 noon

Ian William Foden

  • Age: 56
  • Place and date of death: Rhyl, 24 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 2pm

Josephine Lydia Westerveld

  • Age: 81
  • Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 24 September 2022
  • Time of inquest: 3pm

Registration of Deaths

If the coroner decides that it is necessary for an inquest to be held, then the death will not be registered until the inquest has been completed, however an Interim Death Certificate will be issued by the coroner pending full registration.

At the conclusion of the inquest the coroner will register the death with the registrar for the area where the death occurred. The register offices for North Wales (East and Central) are:

The Coroner's Office

You can contact the Coroner's Office using the details below:

Address:
HM Coroner’s Office
County Hall
Wynnstay Road
Ruthin
LL15 1YN

Email: coroner@denbighshire.gov.uk  

Telephone number: 01824 708 047