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'No-one to blame' for body mix-up 'No-one to blame' for body mix-up
(about 4 hours later)
No-one is to blame for an error which lead to a family being given the wrong body for burial after a road accident in County Fermanagh, a judge has found.No-one is to blame for an error which lead to a family being given the wrong body for burial after a road accident in County Fermanagh, a judge has found.
Anita Swift, 16, and Danica O'Rourke, 17, were among four people killed in the crash on the Lisnaskea to Newtownbutler Road in July 2006.Anita Swift, 16, and Danica O'Rourke, 17, were among four people killed in the crash on the Lisnaskea to Newtownbutler Road in July 2006.
Mr Justice Weir's report said an initial mistake made at the scene was then acted on in good faith by others.Mr Justice Weir's report said an initial mistake made at the scene was then acted on in good faith by others.
This led to the Swift family being given Ms O'Rourke's body for burial.This led to the Swift family being given Ms O'Rourke's body for burial.
The mistake was detected when dental records for Ms O'Rourke did not match the body which was thought to be hers.The mistake was detected when dental records for Ms O'Rourke did not match the body which was thought to be hers.
However, by then a funeral had already been held for Ms Swift.However, by then a funeral had already been held for Ms Swift.
Ms O'Rourke's body was then exhumed and was correctly identified as that of Ms Swift.Ms O'Rourke's body was then exhumed and was correctly identified as that of Ms Swift.
In his report, the judge recommended less reliance on preliminary visual identifications, obtaining dental and medical records as a matter of course and greater use of DNA and fingerprinting to provide information for comparison with a body.In his report, the judge recommended less reliance on preliminary visual identifications, obtaining dental and medical records as a matter of course and greater use of DNA and fingerprinting to provide information for comparison with a body.
Mr Justice Weir also said the Irish tradition of burial within three days after death provided a powerful imperative for early release.Mr Justice Weir also said the Irish tradition of burial within three days after death provided a powerful imperative for early release.
Formally identifiedFormally identified
However, he said when the deceased were of the same age and gender, their remains should not be released until they had been positively identified by reliable means.However, he said when the deceased were of the same age and gender, their remains should not be released until they had been positively identified by reliable means.
"My provisional view is that it may be a price well worth paying if it assisted in the avoidance of such an error as occurred in the present case," he said."My provisional view is that it may be a price well worth paying if it assisted in the avoidance of such an error as occurred in the present case," he said.
His investigation found that members of the Swift family had been shown a body believed to be Anita's and had formally identified her as such, despite it actually being Danica.His investigation found that members of the Swift family had been shown a body believed to be Anita's and had formally identified her as such, despite it actually being Danica.
A statement released by the Swift family said they accepted that the original error had been "compounded by subsequent events, not withstanding the family's expression of doubt when they first viewed the body which they had been told by the authorities was their daughter."
The O'Rourke family said they hoped the judge's recommendations would be fully implemented.The O'Rourke family said they hoped the judge's recommendations would be fully implemented.
"It is our view that the events resulting in the mistaken burial of Danica involved a significant number of avoidable human errors, however well intentioned those mistakes may have been prevented," a family statement said."It is our view that the events resulting in the mistaken burial of Danica involved a significant number of avoidable human errors, however well intentioned those mistakes may have been prevented," a family statement said.
"The procedures employed by the authorities in this case were clearly insufficient.""The procedures employed by the authorities in this case were clearly insufficient."
The judge's recommendations have been passed to a special core group he set up to produce a "Best Practice Guide for Coroners".The judge's recommendations have been passed to a special core group he set up to produce a "Best Practice Guide for Coroners".
The core group includes a coroner, an inspector from the police service and a doctor from the Department of Health.The core group includes a coroner, an inspector from the police service and a doctor from the Department of Health.