Morahan (claimant/appellant) v HM Assistant Coroner for West London (defendant/respondent) & ors

Wednesday 6th – Thursday 7th July 2022

By Appellant’s Notice filed on 23 August 2021, the Appellant, Jessica Morahan (cousin of the deceased), appeals the decision of Popplewell LJ, Garnham J and Chief Coroner HHJ Teague, dated 11 June 2021, dismissing her claim for judicial review.

Background: The deceased, Tanya Morahan, had a long history of mental illness. She was found dead at home by the police on 9 July 2018 after leaving a rehabilitation unit. She had initially been a detained patient in the unit under s. 3 Mental Health Act 1983, and then became a voluntary in-patient. The issue in this case is whether there is a duty to hold a Middleton inquest (an inquest under article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights,) following the death of a voluntary in-patient of a psychiatric rehabilitation unit due to an overdose of recreational drugs when she was at home in the community.

View hearing:

Day 1

Part 1

Part 2

Day 2

Part 1

Part 2