Beth Grossman, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, told The Telegraph that it was 'remarkable' that the identity of the dog walker had not been released. She added that imposing arbitary restrictions impeded the investigation of serious incidents.
'Coroner’s courts don’t operate to the same rules of procedure as other parts of the courts and tribunals system. For members of the public, including bereaved families who find themselves in this system, it can be difficult and bewildering.'
And yet excessive concern and protection is arbitrarily handed out to some families...
Other sources agreed that the refusal was 'unusual and strange'. An expert on inquests said the only precedent for not revealing the name of the deceased was for children in care.
Independent Press Standards Organisation guidance says that the death of a person is a matter of public record.
'Journalists have a basic right to report the fact of a person’s death, even if surviving family members would prefer for there to be no reporting and regard the death as private.'
Well, grandstanding coroners are nothing new, after all. But this one seems to be in a class of its own.
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