Recent Blog Posts

David’s Inquest: Family Statement

December 23rd, 2024

David overcame a lifetime of challenges, not least the attitudes of professionals in health and social care who did not understand that, just because a person cannot speak words, it doesn’t mean they can’t think and feel. David was the bravest brother, son and uncle, but what he endured in his final days is unimaginable. […]

David Lodge’s Inquest: Coroner’s Conclusion and Prevention of Future Deaths

December 20th, 2024

In November the evidence was heard over two days in the inquest of David Lodge, who died on 13 January 2022 at Hull Royal Infirmary. Today, Assistant Coroner for East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull, Edward Steele, returned to court to give his conclusions. He opened by expressing his condolences […]

Ella’s Human Rights Claim

December 16th, 2024

In June 2018, which feels like a lifetime ago but is only actually 6.5 years, I met Elly Chapple for the first time. It was at Festable at National Star College, we’d been connected online for a while, but on that day I heard her talk about her daughter Ella, and the lessons she had […]

AXA: Giving peace of mind to leisure and business travellers…. or not

November 26th, 2024

This is a little leftside for me, but as I did one of my last ever visits to Twitter this morning I saw a thread from the lovely Cat Rubens, who is one of the Human Rights Solicitors at Leigh Day. It took me aback because I’ve seen posts from Cat on social media for […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Family Statement

November 25th, 2024

The past two weeks have been gruelling for us as a family. We would like to thank the jury for the diligence and care they have taken. Morgan did not receive that care in the last few weeks of her life so she deserved it after her death.  Everything we feared about Morgan’s treatment under […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Jury Conclusion

November 22nd, 2024

The jury returned to court at 16:21. They gave their findings and conclusion but when the coroner went to sign the form she realised in Box 3 they had referred to ‘the deceased’ and not Morgan’s name. She explained that for legal purposes that would have to be corrected. Court was then adjourned again whilst […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Prevention of Future Deaths

Once the jury were out, the coroner heard evidence from Mr Alistair McGrory of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust relating to the Serious Incident Investigation conducted following Morgan’s death and the action plan that emerged from it. This was to address the coroner so she could decide if there were any outstanding matters in terms […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Coroner’s Directions to the Jury (Take 2)

Most of the morning of Day 10 of Morgan’s inquest was spent in legal discussion and for court administration as the new directions to be given to the jury were agreed. I made an application to the court for a copy of the directions given to the jury, which assisted this reporting. The jury were […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Coroner’s Directions to the Jury and Summing Up

November 21st, 2024

I was not available to report Days 6, 7 and 8 from Morgan’s inquest this week. I am grateful to the court for allowing me to attend remotely for the coroner’s summing up and the conclusion of the inquest. Most of today was spent waiting or observing legal submissions between the coroner and the counsel […]

Morgan’s Inquest: Nurse John Traynor

November 16th, 2024

At 16:52 on Friday 15 November, Day 5 of Morgan’s inquest the coroner asked Nurse Traynor to come to the witness stand. He gave an oath, confirmed his name was John Traynor and that he was a Registered Mental Health Nurse. C: Thank you, and you’ve provided a statement for the purposes of the inquest. […]