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Article: Straw denies secrecy plan; INQUEST: Coroner Aidan Cotter slams proposals.(News)
- Article from:
- Birmingham Mail (England)
- Article date:
- October 30, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Kat Keogh
JUSTICE Secretary Jack Straw has hit back at Birmingham's coroner after he branded a proposed shakeup of the inquest system a "disgrace".
Mr Straw spoke out after coroner Aidan Cotter slammed proposals to ban the press, public and bereaved families from certain investigations into deaths under the Coroners and Justice Bill.
If made law, the measures would hand the Government powers to suspend an inquest and stage a "secret" inquiry instead. Civil liberties groups fear inquests like that of Jean Charles De Menezes, shot dead by police when mistaken for a terrorist, and those involving the deaths of British soldiers could be ...