The Coroners Service Charter (PDF) - Northern Ireland Court ...

8SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICEjournalists are permitted to attend. It alsoprovides information on the opportunities forthe family to participate in the proceedings,including the right to speak and the right tobe represented.Keeping in TouchIf the case goes to inquest, and the coronercontinues his or her investigation followingthe postmortem examination, the Coroner’soffice will contact the appropriate next ofkin initially after four months of the deathand thereafter every three months to updatethem, consult with them and explain theprogress. This will not apply if they haveindicated that they only wish to be contactedwhen there is a specific issue to discuss.The Coroners Service will not normallyrelease any information to the media whichhas not already been made public throughan inquest, without the consent of theappropriate next of kin.