Coroners Act 2010 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 5 · Circumstances Under Which Inquiry Is Held
26. Power of Public Prosecutor to require inquiry
Feedback & supportThe Public Prosecutor may, in any case where a Coroner has jurisdiction and the Public Prosecutor is satisfied that an inquiry is necessary or desirable, require the Coroner to hold an inquiry into the death of any person.
Coroner
“Coroner” means a Coroner appointed under section 3(1), and includes the State Coroner;
The Public Prosecutor may direct that a body be exhumed if the Public Prosecutor is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the purposes of the inquiry.
body
“body” means a dead person, and includes any part of a person (whether or not the identity of the person concerned is known when the part is discovered or is later determined) —(a)without which no person can live; or(b)discovered in such circumstances or such state that it is probable that the person is dead,but does not include a foetus or a stillborn child within the meaning of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021;
Even though proceedings at any inquiry may have been concluded by a Coroner, where it appears to the Public Prosecutor that further investigations are necessary, the Public Prosecutor may direct the Coroner to re‑open the inquiry and make further investigations, and the Coroner must comply with those directions and then proceed in the same manner as if the proceedings at the inquiry had not been concluded.
inquiry
“inquiry” means an inquiry into any death held by a Coroner under Part 6;