Can you stop Inquest results being published in local press?

[PerfectPenquins]

Hi, I am trying to find out it there's any way to stop local press from publishing the inquest results. I have been told members of the press are invited to the inquest. I understand the result will be public record for anyone who wishes to look it up but am hoping there's a way to stop it being published?

Coroners courts are open to anyone who wants to go in and listen. They are attended less and less by local reporters who are few and far between these days. Will you be going to the inquest yourself? If so you will be able to see if there are any reporters there. If there is no-one there it will not be reported. On no account alert your local paper beforehand by asking them not to cover it as this will make them more likely to go along and see if it is interesting. If there is a reporter there, you could approach them and have a quiet word to ask if they are covering the case and appeal to them not to publish. I don't have any idea of what it is you don't want reported - if it is a very sad, private tragedy (of which there are so many at coroners courts) a reporter with a heart would by sympathetic. Many local papers choose not to report suicides for instance unless there is a public interest. If it is an inquest following an event or accident the paper has already reported they may take a different view. for you at what sounds like a very difficult time.

Thank you LillianGish In this case it is my ex partner, we have three kids aged 5, 10 and 11. He passed in March and the initial test or autopsy (not sure what its called) didn't show up any causes. So then a toxicology was done which has show up cocaine. This is now starting the inquest procedure. Police have only spoken to his dad who barely saw him and his work colleague who saw him three days prior. Neither my self, his mum, sisters or friends have been approached. When the police came to tell me the night he was found I did try to give them a history though was in shock so it may not have been very clear. The thing is the cocaine indicates to his mum and I that he was still using that to cope with the stress he was under. The morning he passed away he was due to go to a work meeting that was pretty serious, he struggled immensely with depression, worked all the time including overtime every single day yet couldn't sleep so we believe thats when the cocaine came into play to help keep him up for this meeting. He was a good person who struggled so badly with depression and tried to hide it from so many people for years even some of his friends didnt know. I just worry that the drugs will be the main highlight and local people will judge him for it- its a small town unfortunately. Like you've said I wont approach them before and see if they turn up then appeal to them. Sadly im in a grief group and another lady has woken up to our local paper publishing her loved ones inquest result all unexpectedly. Im mostly worried for my eldest, she isnt ready to be told drugs are involved and wont understand the complexities however as she will be in year 7 in September im concerned other pupils may find out etc. His mum and I are putting together some questions for the coroner and so will make it clear we really wish to be there and have much to contribute for full clarity of his life and circumstances. Its so incredibly tough we have waited 10 weeks for the report thinking it would be the answer yet its just more questions. Thank you very much for your reply and sorry this is so garbled its all been a shock.

So sorry to hear your story. I don't have any more advice, but didn't want to ignore your reply. In your situation I would think about how you can explain to you children what has happened in terms they can understand - especially if your main concern is them finding out (by whatever means). Better that it comes from you so that you can sugar the pill in whatever way you can than that they find out in some other way in the future and find another spin being put on it (and don't believe your version because you weren't upfront about it in the first place).

I'm sorry for your loss, OP, but I think all you can control here is the way in which your children are made privy to information about their father's death. The point of the inquest is to come to a conclusion about whether a death was accidental/suicide/ misadventure/unlawful killing/ open verdict, so that the death can be properly registered, not to provide some form of comprehensive judgement on an individual's life.

As @LillianGish said, you will be able to see on the day whether any reporters are present, though it's fairly unlikely unless there's something about the circumstances of your ex's death that makes it a media 'story'. Any members of the public can in theory attend.

In my experience, coroners genuinely try to minimise intrusion into the privacy of families, but sometimes it's inevitable. The one situation I became aware of was about whether a suicide note needed to be read out at the inquest.

Thank you both very much for taking the time to reply, your both right I need to find the most sensitive way to explain it to the kids rather than risk loosing their trust in them finding things out via the internet or others.
The only thing I can think of that may make it public is his employers are being investigated (we know very little) they may have failed in something maybe policy as he was due for and did not turn up for a meeting that morning which was a serious meeting that could have resulted in him being told to leave or fired whichever way they would do it. He didn't show for either the meeting or for work. When this has happened before they have called me as he gave my details as an emergency contact when they couldn't contact him. This time they didn't, even though they had been aware of his mental health difficulties and concerns,. That may spark the media interest as its a large local business. So difficult, it really is but thank you for taking the time to reply I do appreciate it

Hi there. I am in a similar situation at the moment. What happened with yours in the end? I´m worried sick atm 😥

Hi - try not to worry. My brother had to have an inquest last year - he died following a historic traumatic brain injury. We had no press turn up, and it wasn’t covered. If they do, speak to the court usher who will be allocated to you and will probably be lovely - they should be able to let you know if press are attending, and on how to have a word.

I am sorry for what you are going through.

I am sure how to word this without causing you distress, please don't let me upset you.

Jouralists want to sell a story. The circumstances you have been through will not attract their attention. Please do not worry about it.

My husband death required an inquest, due to it being a suicide. Nothing came out in the press due to this. I have the coroners report with all finding though.
I am so sorry for your loss x

This is an old thread but I wanted to add a word of warning. I used to be a journalist and whatever you do, don't ask a reporter not to publish an inquest or court case.
We were always told that if we were asked not to report on a certain case, then we must report on it, in case it appeared that we had been bribed to ignore it.
These days however there are fewer local reporters so I think courts don't get the coverage they used to.