Human Rights Act invoked as coroner probes death of Blackpool kennels and cattery owner
“This is a complex set of circumstances involving a clearly vulnerable woman”
A coroner is to invoke Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights in probing the death of a Blackpool woman.
Blackpool and Fylde chief coroner Alan Wilson explained at a pre-inquest review into the death of 44-year-old Rachel Barr that engaging Article 2 will allow him to broaden the scope of the inquest, when held, which is likely to be early next year.
An Article 2 inquest is an enhanced investigation into a death which engages the state’s procedural obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life.
It is triggered, rarely in healthcare cases, when there is an arguable breach of the state's positive duty to protect an individual’s life.
Mr Wilson said he could reconsider that decision when he has all the evidence.
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Ms Barr, who ran the Charnwood Kennels and Cattery in Division Lane, Marton, died in Blackpool Victoria Hospital last September, five days after being found with injuries.
She had been under the care of mental health services and Mr Wilson also said at the review, held at Blackpool Town Hall, that he is to appoint an independent witness to take a detailed look at all aspects of Ms Barr’s mental health care.
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Mr Wilson said the inquest would concentrate on the care over the three months up to her death.
He said he was especially keen to hear details of the circumstances under which Ms Barr was discharged into the community from The Harbour mental health facility in August and asked for recordings of relevant conversations to be supplied to him, possibly to also be played at the inquest.
Mr Wilson asked for the requested information to be supplied to him within 42 days and added that a further review of the case is likely in December before the inquest into Ms Barr’s death takes place early next year.
Dates in either January or February have been provisionally set, with the inquest likely to take three to four days, the coroner added.
“This is a complex set of circumstances involving a clearly vulnerable woman,” said Mr Wilson.
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