56   Coroner’s right to possession of deceased person’s remains

(cf Coroners Act 1980, s 24)

(1)  A coroner has a right to take possession of and retain the remains of a deceased person whenever the coroner has jurisdiction to hold or is holding an inquest concerning the death or suspected death of the person.

(2)  This right of the coroner has priority over any other right to possession of the remains of a person but otherwise does not affect any other such right.

(3)  This section does not prevent the making of an order by a coroner under section 101 or the disposal of the remains of a deceased person in accordance with such an order.

(4)  This section does not limit any rights that the coroner has apart from this Act.