Section 18 Jury must be summoned in certain cases.F1

Northern Ireland

(1)

If it appears to the coroner, either before he proceeds to hold an inquest or in the course of an inquest begun without a jury, that there is reason to suspect that—

Para. (a) rep. by 1980 NI 6

(b)

the death occurred in prison; or

(c)

the death was caused by an accident, poisoning or disease notice of which is required, under or in pursuance of any enactment, to be given to a government department, or to any inspector or other officer of a government department [F2 or to an inspector appointed under Article 21 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 1978 NI 9]; or

Para. (d) rep. by 1980 NI 6

(e)

the death occurred in circumstances the continuance or possible recurrence of which is prejudicial to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public;

he shall instruct theF3 Juries Officer to summon a sufficient number of persons in accordance with the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 to attend and be sworn as jurors upon such inquest at the time and place specified by the coroner.

(2)

If in any case other than those referred to in sub-section (1) it appears to the coroner, either before or in the course of an inquest begun without a jury, that it is desirable to summon a jury, he may proceed to cause a jury to be summoned in accordance with the said sub-section.

F4(3)

In subsection (1) the reference to the Juries Officer is a reference to the Juries Officer for the division which includes the place specified by the coroner under that subsection; and “Juries Officer” and “division” have the same meanings as in the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

C1( F5 4 )

This section and section 39(3) of the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (prison officers etc not to be jurors) shall apply where a death occurs on service custody premises within the meaning of section 300 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 as they apply where a death occurs in prison.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: 1969 c.28 (NI)
F2: 1978 NI 9
F3: 1996 NI 6
F4: S. 18(3) substituted (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 50(1) (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k) (with art. 3)
F5: S. 18(4) inserted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378(1), 383(2), Sch.16 para. 44; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

Modifications

C1: S. 18(4) modified (24.4.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), arts. 1(3), 205, Sch. 1 para. 7