§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the case, as reported in the press, that the coroner holding the inquest on those drowned in the wreck of the "Herald of Free Enterprise" was acting on the advice of the Lord Chief Justice when he directed the jury not to return a verdict of unlawful killing.
Earl FerrersThe report in the press to which the noble Lord refers was mistaken. In summing up to the jury at the inquest into the deaths on the "Herald of Free Enterprise", the coroner did not withdraw from the jury any of the verdicts which were available, including unlawful killing, which they returned. He did not refer to the Lord Chief Justice.