Grieving relatives are having to wait longer and longer to find out how their loved ones died.  Neil MacFarlane reports on renewed calls for changes at the top of Teesside's Inquest system.

A mum who waited more than two years for an inquest into her 12-year-old daughter's death today said she was "amazed" that waiting times are on the rise again. 

Grieving Andrea Graham was shocked that the number of families awaiting inquests is now greater than a decade ago. 

That was when politicians and families began calls for Teesside coroner Michael Sheffield to stand down. 

Mr Sheffield is today facing renewed pressure, after one MP criticised his performance in the House of Commons. 

Iain Wright, the member for Hartlepool, told Parliament yesterday that the 81-year-old coroner is not giving bereaved families the service they deserve. 

Relatives are now having to wait an average of more than 10 months to find out what caused the deaths. 

Figures show it is taking an average 43 weeks to process an inquest in the area - prompting fears of a new backlog. 

The total of 307 ongoing inquests on Teesside was among the highest levels in England and Wales - and more than twice the average of 143. 

And it means the backlog of cases is now higher than  it was in 2002, when Mr Sheffield survived an attempt by local MPs to have him ousted. 

The coroner's office declined to comment but the Gazette has been told that the latest delays have been attributed to an increase in inquests due to a rise in the number of compensation claims made by families of former workers who died from industrial disease. 

Andrea Graham's daughter Shannon died after falling from a swing in a play park in 2000. 

But the family had a long wait before the inquest was heard. 

The Thornaby mum said: "Where is the consideration for the families that have to go through this?  Our inquest was pretty straightforward, I couldn't understand why it took so long. 

"You never strop grieving, but having to wait for an inquest just prolongs so much agony. 

"The whole system should have been changed years ago." 

A Government inquiry into delays on Teesside were taking resulted in a dressing down for Mr Sheffield from Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer.  Mr Sheffield was given a warning about his future conduct. 

That led to assurances that the backlog was "well under control" and "substantially eradicated." 

But the latest Government statistics show the length of time families have to wait is increasing again.  Cases took an average of 43.2 weeks to process last year - up from 33.8 weeks in 2009.  The national average is 26.9 weeks. 

Mr Sheffield has been in charge of Teesside inquest for nearly 40 years. 

Nine years ago, Tees MPs Vera Baird, Frank Cook, Dari Taylor, Ashok Kumar and Sir Stuart Bell tried to have him replaced after being inundated with complaints from constituents. 

When Ms Baird launched the campaign, she revealed that the coroner's office was dealing with around 290 open cases. 

And - after an inquiry taking more than a year - the Lord Chancellor criticised Mr Sheffield for failing to clear the backlog. 

Speaking about the current delays, Hartlepool MP Mr Wright said: "The truth of the matter is that in my part of the world - the Teesside area - we need the coroner to improve and provide a much better service for families. 

"Families on Teesside deserve to see inquests over the deaths of loved ones concluded with sympathy, professionalism and swiftness. 

"They are not getting that at the moment and are not being provided with an explanation as to why." 

The longest-running inquest on Mr Sheffield's books is that of Premarathan Poonan, a 33-year-old prisoner found hanged in his cell at Holme House Prison. 

The inquest was opened and adjourned on November 20, 2005. 

It is understood the delay is down to difficulties in tracing the family of the Sri Lankan immigrant, who had previously lived at Queen Street, South Bank. 

Helen Shaw, co-director of Inquest, which works on behalf of bereaved families, said there are long-standing concerns about the impact on families when an inquest is put on hold. 

"It further damages them and prolongs their grief when they are already dealing with a traumatic death,"  she added. 

Shannon's mum Andrea said: "I'm amazed that elsewhere  delays are still going on, especially after all this time. 

"I think Mr Sheffield should have stepped down back then, I didn't realise he was still practising. 

"It doesn't make sense that this is still happening - the problem with the delays are no secret. 

Have you been affected by delays in the inquest system?  If so, contact Neil MacFarlane on 01642 234 187 or at neil.macfarlane@eveninggazette.co.uk

Background

When the Gazette first reported on inquest delays on Teesside a decade ago, it sparked a battle to revamp the coroner's service that raged for more than three years and involved the highest legal office in the land. 

but, when all was said and done, very little changed. 

Coroner Michael Sheffield ignored calls for his resignation and still holds the post today at the age of 81. 

As the months turned to years, the list of grieving families waiting to find out how their loved ones had died grew longer and longer. 

Coroners are expected to complete inquests within six months. 

But Teesside families were made to wait far longer. 

James Ansell, from Norton, was the first to come forward after a delay of more than 20 months before the verdict on the death of his 83-year-mother Lillian Hawkes from a fall at her nursing home. 

He described the wait as "disgraceful." 

Soon after, New Market couple Chris and Bridget Jacklin were caught up in the same system when they had to wait 19 months for a verdict on the death of 13-year-old daughter Lisa. 

After an open verdict was recorded a devastated Mr Jacklin said: "It's cruel to put us through this." 

As the storm around Mr. Sheffield grew - and it emerged the waiting time for his cases was twice the national average - the 71-year-old blamed the delays on a lack of experienced officers. 

By this point, Vera Baird, the then MP for Redcar, had raised the issue in Parliament. 

She later pointed out that the Hartlepool Coroner's office, which shared Mr. Sheffield's staff, had no backlog. 

In 2002, there were about 200 open cases.  By the following June it had risen to 300. 

More bereaved relatives came forward with complaints, including Margaret Wright, who waited 14 months for the coroner to record an open verdict on her 32-year-old daughter Mandi's death. 

She said at the time: "Why did it take more than 13 months to hold an inquest which told us no more than we already knew." 

The inquest for Saltburn mother Delaine Elliott's son, who died from a heroin overdose, took nearly two years. 

She said: "Having to wait is a horrendous experience.  You can't get on with your life unless there is closure. 

After pressure from five Teesside MPs, led by Ms Bair, the Lord Chancellor opened an inquiry into the Teesside coroner, stating: "I very much share your concerns about Mr Sheffield's performance." 

Ms Baird, called for radical changes to the system to bring to an end "extraordinary delays."  the inquiry took nearly a year. 

The Lord Chancellor eventually issued a severe reprimand to Mr. Sheffield in June 2004, and warned he would be monitoring the coroner's future performances.

Mr Sheffield was allowed to stay in the job. 

Ms Baird, Stockton North MP Frank Cook and Stockton South member Dari Taylor, all then serving MPs, called for his to resign. 

But a statement released on Mr Sheffield's behalf claimed the backlog was "well under control" and "substantial eradicated", and called on Cleveland police to support hi with more officer help. 

His solicitors later issued an apology on his behalf, stating: 

"He apologises for any distress that the delays in completing inquests may have caused." 

Billingham mum Pauline Hartley added to the calls for Mr Sheffield's resignation. 

Her 14-year-old son Anthony collapsed and died from a mystery illness in September 2002, but she had to wait 18 months for the inquest. 

In the meantime, she was desperate to find out what caused the death, in cased there had been an undiagnosed condition that could have affected the family.

The worry was exacerbated when her daughter passed out with similar symptoms, but thankfully survived. 

the inquest ultimately failed to find out the cause of death.  Mrs Hartley later said: "The thought of him putting other families through what we have been through is unbelievable." 

Timeline

April 2002: Redcar MP Vera Baird raises the issue of delayed inquests in Parliament following reports in the Gazette and complaints from constituents. 

July 2003:  The Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer ordered a judicial inquiry to be conducted by Circuit judge John Milford in to Mr Sheffield for failing to tackle the backlog. 

August 2003:  Stockton North MP Frank Cook pressed the Lord Chancellor to remove the secrecy surrounding the inquiry into the coroner. 

December 2003: The deadline for the final report, which was originally expected before Christmas, was put back. 

January 2004: Mr Sheffield told the Gazette progress had been made to cut the backlog. 

April 2004: Lord Falconer said he would issue his decision shortly after the Easter recess. 

July 2004: Lord Falconer said his decision on whether Mr Sheffield stays or goes would be made "within days." 

July 5 2004: Lord Falconer's decision to "severely reprimand" Mr. Sheffield is revealed.