Become a Member

ByTrevor Asserson, Trevor Asserson

Opinion

Was Mary Hassell driven by an unspoken agenda?

The five-year battle with the coroner is far from over says the lawyer at the heart of the matter

May 3, 2018 13:37
image.jpg
2 min read

Notwithstanding last week’s victory, the battle with Coroner Hassell seems far from over.

It started almost as soon as she took office five years ago, when she unilaterally withdrew an out-of-hours service.

It has continued through three cases — two taken to final judgment — and a disciplinary tribunal. Hassell has lost all of them but is still fighting.

Hassell has created trouble broadly in two ways: by ordering invasive autopsies, which desecrate the body, and by causing delay to the burial. For Jews and Muslims, desecration and delayed burial cause huge anguish.