|
|
|
Identification of body of deceased person
|
| |
17. The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 27:
|
|
| |
“27. (1) For the purpose of establishing the identity of a deceased person, a coroner may request a member of the Garda Síochána, a designated officer of the Ombudsman Commission where there is a relevant Ombudsman Commission investigation concerning the death of that person, a family member of the deceased person or, if the circumstances of the death so require, a suitably qualified person who has expertise regarding the identification of human remains—
|
|
| |
(a) to view the body of the deceased person, or
|
|
| |
(b) if such a viewing would not assist with the identification of the deceased person or in circumstances to which section 22 or 23 relates, to examine and consider other evidence of identity of the deceased person,
|
|
| |
and the person so requested shall give evidence of identity of the deceased person to the coroner.
|
|
| |
(2) Where evidence of identity of a deceased person is given to a coroner under subsection (1) and that evidence is subsequently presented by the coroner at an inquest in relation to the death of that person, it shall be evidence of the identity of the deceased person without further proof, unless the contrary is shown.
|
|
| |
(3) If evidence of identity of a deceased person is disputed at an inquest in relation to the death of that person, the member of the Garda Síochána or other person who gave the evidence to the coroner under subsection (1) shall attend the inquest regarding that evidence.
|
|
| |
(4) Where it is not possible to identify the deceased person, the absence of such identification shall not prevent the coroner from inquiring into the circumstances of the death of that person or from holding an inquest in relation to the death.”.
|
