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 3 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Celia Hoos
- Age: 77
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 16 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Philip Ian Carter
- Age: 57
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 16 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 11am
Terence George Hewitt
- Age: 57
- Place and date of death: Countess of Chester, 31 January 2023
- Time of inquest: 12 noon
David Gareth Whomsley
- Age: 90
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 5 December 2022
- Time of inquest: 2pm
Gerrard Wayne Gardiner
- Age: 53
- Place and date of death: Connah’s Quay, 24 February 2023
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Doreen Ann Wareing
- Age: 75
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 19 April 2023
- Time of inquest: 4pm
Wednesday 4 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Lynn Christine Thomas
- Age: 59
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 4 February 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Graham Charles Foster
- Age: 71
- Place and date of death: Countess of Chester, 17 July 2023
- Time of inquest: 12:30pm
Ben Christopher Harrison – Pre-Inquest Hearing
- Age: 37
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd 18 December 2020
- Time of inquest: 2pm
Eunice Devlin
- Age: 87
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 10 February 2023
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Thursday 5 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Margaret Gertrude Kelly
- Age: 82
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 31 March 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Jean Smith
- Age: 88
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd
- Time of inquest: 2pm
Monday 9 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Deanne Michelle Bethan Jones
- Age: 31
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 1 April 2022
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Tuesday 10 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Dominic Graham
- Age: 47
- Place and date of death: Rhosesmor, 26 February 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Richard David John Jasper
- Age: 40
- Place and date of death: Betws yn Rhos, 26 February 2023
- Time of inquest: 11am
May Williams
- Age: 82
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 20 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 12 noon
Matthew Daniel Ingold
- Age: 33
- Place and date of death: Abergele, 25 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 2pm
Gareth Richard David Morris
- Age: 43
- Place and date of death: Wrexham, 25 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Kathleen Jones
- Age: 88
- Place and date of death: Wrexham Maelor, 17 July 2023
- Time of inquest: 4pm
Thursday 12 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Ronald Evans
- Age: 85
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 30 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Lesley Dawn Hodgkinson
- Age: 56
- Place and date of death: Penyffordd, 25 March 2023
- Time of inquest: 11am
David Robert Scullard
- Age: 72
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 29 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 12 noon
Gerrard Francis Watson
- Age: 87
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 29 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 2pm
George Christopher Mortimer
- Age: 90
- Place and date of death: Abergele, 2 June 2023
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Betty Riley
- Age: 96
- Place and date of death: Chirk, 7 June 2023
- Time of inquest: 4pm
Tuesday 17 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Liam Andrew Hughes
- Age: 42
- Place and date of death: Llangollen, 7 June 2023
- Time of inquest: 11am
Joan Avril Astley
- Age: 87
- Place and date of death: Abergele, 15 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 2pm
Sarah Rachel Cawthray
- Age: 56
- Place and date of death: Colwyn Bay, 1 March 2023
- Time of inquest: 3pm
Jakub Mateusz Bochocki
- Age: 32
- Place and date of death: Wrexham, 19 January 2023
- Time of inquest: 4pm
Thursday 19 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
John Martindale
- Age: 84
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 28 October 2013
- Time of inquest: 10am
Friday 20 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Benjamin David Leonard
- Age: 16
- Place and date of death: Llandudno 26 August 2018
- Time of inquest: 11am
Wednesday 25 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Lee Pemberton
- Age: 44
- Place and date of death: Whitchurch, 12 June 2022
- Time of inquest: 10am
Haydn Owen Jones
- Age: 66
- Place and date of death: Abergele, 17 June 2022
- Time of inquest: 1pm
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Inquest location: Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN
Judith Dawn Bird
- Age: 78
- Place and date of death: Rhuddlan, 9 May 2023
- Time of inquest: 10am
Thomas Gordon Hayward
- Age: 97
- Place and date of death: Glan Clwyd, 13 April 2023
- Time of inquest: 2pm
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