Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 166: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in having a report (details supplied) issued. [31597/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can inform the Deputy that the Coroner inquiry process is a matter for the relevant Coroner, who is independent in the exercise of that quasi-judicial role. In certain cases a post-mortem will be required so as to enable the Coroner to carry out his/her statutory functions and a range of factors can influence the time it takes for the post mortem report to be received from the pathologist concerned. I understand from the Cork Coroner's office that in their experience it generally takes between 3 and 6 months for a post-mortem report to be received but that this may take longer where further specialist tests are required (e.g. toxicology, histology and microbiology tests).