Coroners Act, 1962

Provisions where coroner and deputy coroner are prevented from holding inquest.

20.—(1) Whenever an inquest cannot be held save by virtue of this section on account of—

(a) the coroner for the relevant district being absent, ill, incapacitated or disqualified under this Act for holding the inquest or there being a vacancy in the office of coroner for the district, and

(b) the deputy coroner for the district being at the same time absent, ill, incapacitated or disqualified under this Act for holding the inquest,

any member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector may request the coroner for an adjoining district to hold the inquest, and thereupon such coroner shall hold the inquest accordingly and for that purpose shall be deemed to be the coroner for the first-mentioned district.

(2) Whenever an inquest is held by virtue of this section, the local authority liable to pay the salary of the coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest shall pay the coroner who holds the inquest such fee as may be prescribed together with such sum to cover his travelling and other expenses as shall be agreed upon between him and the local authority or, in default of agreement, as shall be fixed by the Minister.