Coroners Act, 1962

Post-mortem and special examinations.

33.—(1) A coroner may at any time before or during an inquest cause to be made a post-mortem examination of the body of any person in relation to whose death an inquest is to be or is being held.

(2) A coroner may request the Minister to arrange—

(a) a post-mortem examination by a person appointed by the Minister of the body of any person in relation to whose death the coroner is holding or proposes to hold an inquest, or

(b) a special examination by way of analysis, test or otherwise by a person appointed by the Minister of particular parts or contents of the body or of any other relevant substances or things, or

(c) both such post-mortem examination and special examination,

and he may make such request whether or not he has exercised any other power conferred on him by this Act of causing a post-mortem examination of the body to be made.

(3) It shall be the duty of a coroner to exercise his powers of request to the Minister under subsection (2) of this section in every case in which a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector applies to him so to do and states his reasons for so applying.

(4) Every request to the Minister under subsection (2) of this section shall be accompanied by the reasons therefor of the coroner or member of the Garda Síochána at whose instance the request is made.

(5) The Minister on receiving a request under subsection (2) of this section may, as he thinks proper, either comply or decline to comply with the request.