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

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.