Recent legislation provides that a family member could receive
free legal aid or advice at an inquest where it is in the public
interest. Given the recent publicity regarding hospital
deaths, this provision could become increasingly relevant.
Under the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
2013, a family member can apply to the coroner to submit a request
to the Legal Aid Board for legal aid or legal advice in certain
circumstances. This application must be made before the
beginning of the inquest, unless the coroner permits
otherwise.
The coroner can make a request if the continuance or recurrence of
the circumstances of death would be prejudicial to the health or
safety of the public. This could arguably apply to a death
due to a systems failure in a hospital. There must also be a
significant public interest in granting legal aid or
advice.1 If legal aid or legal advice is granted by
the Legal Aid Board, no further requests can be made by another
family member.
If a family member is not granted legal aid at an inquest, they
could seek to recoup the costs of legal representation in
subsequent proceedings. In Courtney v Our Lady's
Hospital Crumlin2 a plaintiff was allowed to
recover the costs of legal representation at the inquest of the
death of her daughter. The Court held that she was a witness
of central importance in the inquest. Her choice to be
legally represented at the inquest was reasonable because the
explanations about her daughter's death were unsatisfactory and
potentially in dispute. The costs of legal representation
were recoverable under the Civil Liability Act 1961. The
Court noted that there may be cases where the facts regarding the
circumstances of death were fully disclosed prior to the inquest
and not disputed. In such a case, legal representation for
the next of kin would be unnecessary.
It remains to be seen if the Legal Aid Board could recover the
costs of providing legal representation at an inquest where damages
are awarded in subsequent proceedings.
Footnotes
1 The Act also provides for a request for legal aid for next of kin if the death occurred while the decreased was held under the supervision of the State, for example: the deceased was at the time of death or immediately before death in the custody of the Gardai; in custody in a prison; in service custody; involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act 2001; detained under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006; in custody in a remand centre under the Children Act 2001 or in a children detention school; or the deceased was a child in care.
2 [2011] 2 I.R.L.M 328
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.