Report a death
What deaths must be reported
If a death is sudden, unexplained, violent or unnatural it must be reported to the Coroner. These are known as reportable deaths.
A list of all reportable deaths is found in the Second Schedule of the Coroner’s Act 1962 – 2024.
A reportable death in a hospital must be reported by a medical practitioner, nurse or midwife responsible for or involved in the treatment or care of the deceased person in the period immediately before their death or who was present at their death.
All deaths in nursing homes must be reported to the coroner. A medical professional working in the nursing home must report the death.
Reportable deaths that take place in the community are reported to the Coroner by An Garda Síochána.
Please Contact us where, having referred to the Second Schedule, you are still unsure if a death should be reported to the coroner.
Report a death
How to report a death in a Nursing Home to the Coroner
If you are reporting an expected death in a nursing home you must complete the
Where the death is unexpected the GP must contact us directly using
the general contact form and selecting Death Report
What happens when a death has been reported
Expected death in a nursing home
When the death report has been received, the referral officer may contact the treating GP named in the submitted report to confirm that:
- The doctor has seen and treated the deceased within one month of the date of death;
- The cause of death is known, and the death was due to natural causes;
- There are no family concerns.
Where these conditions are met, and there are no other matters requiring investigation, the Coroner will allow the doctor to complete a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death so the death may be registered with the Registrar of Deaths.
Coroner staff will notify the nursing home of the Coroner’s decision and agreement to release the remains of the deceased.
Reportable death in hospital
When the report is received the Coroner’s referral officer will contact the reporting medical professional to establish if there are other matters that require investigation.
If there are no other matters that require investigation, the Coroner will allow the medical professional to complete a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death so the death may be registered with the Registrar of Deaths.
Coroner staff will notify the reporting medical professional of the Coroner’s decision and agreement to release the remains of the deceased.
The bereaved must be made aware of the decision not to investigate.
Further investigation
What happens if further investigation is required?
A doctor/medical professional cannot certify a cause of death that is deemed or suspected to be unnatural or unexplained.
If further investigation is required, based on information available, the Coroner will decide if:
- A death may be certified without any further action
- A post mortem examination is required to establish the cause of death
- Where the cause of death is unnatural or unexplained, an inquest is required.
The remains of the deceased will not be released to the family until advised to do so by the Coroner’s office.
Where an inquest is to be held, the coroner will seek detailed reports from treating health care professionals to assist with the inquiry.
