Michael Carr (Labour Politician) - Aftermath

Aftermath

The circumstances of Carr's death required an inquest and one was convened on 26 February 1991. When the full story emerged, the Merseyside coroner Roy Barter postponed the inquest to consider criminal charges for negligence against some of the health care personnel involved. The Director of Public Prosecutions decided that no charges should be brought and the inquest was resumed on 9 April 1992, when the coroner again postponed the hearing after referring three points of law to the High Court.

Carr's family then successfully sought a judicial review of this decision which was held on 28 May 1993. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, although insufficient evidence was found to prosecute. The judicial review nullified the proceedings at the first inquest, and ordered a new one under a different coroner. This second inquest opened on 20 February 1995. On 23 February 1995, a verdict of death by natural causes was recorded. After Carr's death another by-election for the seat had to be held in November of the year, and was won by the Labour candidate, Joe Benton.