Removal of Bodies on Behalf of the Coroner - Northern Ireland Court ...

Northern Ireland
www.courtsni.gov.uk
<strong>Removal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bodies</strong>
on Behalf <strong>of</strong> the
Coroner
Information for PSNI & Funeral Directors on the <strong>Removal</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Bodies</strong> on behalf <strong>of</strong> the Coroner
serving the community through
the administration <strong>of</strong> justice

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
This leaflet provides details <strong>of</strong> the arrangements which
are to be adhered to when the Coroner is investigating an
unexpected, violent or unexplained death.
Further information can be found in our best practice guide
“Working with the Coroners Service <strong>of</strong> Northern Ireland”
available on our web-site.
On the Coroner’s instructions and in all cases where a
post mortem examination is necessary the reporting PSNI
investigating <strong>of</strong>ficer will arrange for prompt transportation <strong>of</strong>
the body to the Northern Ireland Regional Forensic Mortuary
once all agencies have completed their initial investigations
at the scene. This removal must be carried out by the
contracted Funeral Directors who will be tasked by PSNI.
The family funeral director can arrange to collect the remains
from the mortuary after the post mortem examination has
concluded. This will attract the standard fee <strong>of</strong> £60 which
incorporates the first 20 miles; - thereafter 75p per mile is
payable. All claims for this fee should be submitted within
28 days but no later than 2 months after the removal has
taken place. Claims should be submitted to the Coroner’s
Office, Mays Chambers, 73 May Street, Belfast, BT1 3JL on a
<strong>Removal</strong> <strong>of</strong> Remains (Non Contract) Invoice form available
directly from the <strong>of</strong>fice – 02890446800 or our website
www.courtsni.gov.uk.
Details <strong>of</strong> the contracted areas are set out below and PSNI
Call Handling Managers in each <strong>of</strong> these districts will hold the
contact details for the contracted Funeral Directors.

CORONERS SERVICE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 3
District A – North and West Belfast
District B – South and East Belfast
District C – North Down, Ards, Castlereagh and Down
District D – Antrim, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus
District E – Newry & Mourne, Armagh, Banbridge and
Craigavon
District F – Fermanagh, Omagh, Dungannon, South Tyrone
and Cookstown
District G – Strabane, Foyle, Limavady and Magherafelt
District H – Coleraine, Ballymoney, Moyle, Ballymena and
Larne
In non-suspicious cases (in which a doctor, when available
may be able to issue either a death certificate or a pro-forma
letter) the PSNI investigating <strong>of</strong>ficer has discretion to arrange
for the body to be held in a local mortuary or funeral director’s
premises pending a discussion between the coroner and
doctor provided:-
1) suitable storage arrangements are in place;
2) and there are clear instructions given not to interfere
with the body until the doctor has confirmed that he has
issued either a death certificate or pro-forma letter.
This removal may be carried out by a funeral director <strong>of</strong> the
family’s choice or if none is available the coroners contracted
funeral director may arrange to take the body into their care
until such time as the family decide which funeral director they
wish to use.
It should be noted that if the doctor subsequently confirms
that he cannot issue a certificate or pro-forma letter and
a post mortem is necessary the PSNI will instruct the
contracted funeral director for that district to arrange the
transportation <strong>of</strong> the body to the Northern Ireland Regional
Forensic Mortuary.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Further General Information for Funeral Directors
To avoid additional distress for a family at a traumatic time
in their lives it is imperative that a funeral director does not
under any circumstances make arrangements for a funeral
until they:-
1) have received confirmation that a doctor will issue either
a medical certificate <strong>of</strong> the cause <strong>of</strong> death or a pr<strong>of</strong>orma
letter has been agreed with the Coroner’s Office
or;
2) have checked with the Coroner’s Office that the body
can be released following post mortem examination.
Please note that in some deaths where identification <strong>of</strong> the
deceased is problematic (e.g. in cases where the body is
badly disrupted and visual identification is not possible which
can happen following a fire or serious road traffic collision)
forensic DNA analysis may be required and this can take
some weeks to complete.
Also in cases where someone may be charged with causing
the death the body may not be released for some time.
In these circumstances it is imperative that you await the
final release <strong>of</strong> the remains before confirming the funeral
arrangements. The Coroners Liaison Officer or Police Family
Liaison Officer will advise the family when this is possible. It
is appreciated that although families are under considerable
strain at this time the situation could be made worse if
misidentification took place.
Your assistance in managing the family’s expectations in
these particular circumstances is essential in order to avoid
additional distress.

CORONERS SERVICE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 5
To allow Coroner’s staff the opportunity to process new death
reports appropriately and ensure the best service to all it
would be helpful if Funeral Directors contacted the <strong>of</strong>fice
only after 10.30 am.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Coroners Service for Northern Ireland
Mays Chambers
73 May Street
Belfast
BT1 3JL
Tel: 02890446800
Fax 02890446801
Email: coroners<strong>of</strong>fice@courtsni.gov.uk
Website: www.courtsni.gov.uk
October 2012