Coroners clash with government over OECD Excess Deaths report

Dail briefing to discuss details of New Pandemic Treaty later today

Today represents a significant day in the post covid era with a session in the Dail alerting concerns over the World Health Organisation’s New Pandemic Treaty.

The session will hear from a number of speakers, giving a platform in our national parliament for the first time, to voices that called out serious issues arising from government policy implemented during the covid 19 crisis.

It’s worth noting that a full year has passed since Coroners raised the issue of ongoing excess deaths, on this Substack, on RTE and in a national newspaper, the Irish Examiner.

Meanwhile, coroners across the country have raised issues with new legislation they say could interfere with their independence:

“The coroners’ representative body has “grave concerns” that new legislation concerning the appointment of coroners in Dublin and of temporary coroners across the State may lead to “fundamental interference” with their independence.

“Most of the State’s 37 coroners are lawyers or doctors who carry out their coroner function in addition to those roles and their concern is the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 may signal an intent to have coroners become public servants in the future.

“The Bill provides for the appointment of more temporary coroners to reduce pressure on the service and address inquest delays, particularly in Dublin where bereaved families face waits of up to two years. Legislation for more fundamental reform is being prepared separately.” - Mary Carolan, Irish Times.

A clash between the countries independent coroners and the Department of Justice could prompt some discomfort for government, considering Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s latest position is to claim there are no excess deaths in Ireland, as per this OECD report, for which the government (unusually) issued a specific press release.

The report is flawed however, as illustrated by Kilkenny accountant Patrick E Walsh, whose work is focused on raising awareness around excess deaths.

Walsh outlined the following detail on his Substack last year:

"Post mortems requested by coroners in Dublin for sudden and unexplained deaths in 2022 are 57% higher than in 2019."

Commenting in a personal capacity on the rise of post mortems across the country at large, Mayo Coroner Pat O’Connor, who holds the position of spokesman for the Coroners Society of Ireland, said he suspects the rise is connected to ‘careful consideration of medical causes of death due to lessons learned during the past three years’ :

“In the country at large I think there has been an increase in the number of Post Mortem/Autopsy examinations directed by Coroners following discussion with the medical clinicians (doctors) involved in treating people.

“There is no empirical evidence as to why there is an increase in such examinations being directed by Coroners. I suspect that the medical causes of death are being very carefully considered following the COVID pandemic and the lessons learnt during the past three years.

“A person whose medical cause of death may have  been given as “Covid Pneumonia” during the pandemic may have had a number of comorbidities and underlying medical conditions which are now being clearly set out as the direct cause of death. People are being certified dead as a result of the major underlying medical condition that they have and “with COVID Pneumonia” rather than from COVID Pneumonia,” he said.

Wexford GP Dr Billy Ralph will address excess deaths at today’s Dail briefing

Coroner Pat O’Connor called for an inquiry into the covid 19 pandemic in Ireland while delivering the verdict into the death of Sally Maaz (15) in Mayo, April 2022.

Almost two years have passed since the Coroner recommended the following:

“That an expert group be established by the Government to review the manner in which the State, particularly the Department of Health and the HSE, dealt with the Covid pandemic in Ireland with a view to learning lessons and ensuring that the State is adequately prepared for any further pandemic.”

Today’s briefing in the Dail, organised by Senator Sharon Keogan, will outline concerns such as the Coroner suggested, with input from Swiss lawyer Philipp Kruse on democratic issues around the WHO’s New Pandemic Treaty.

Kruse is among thousands around the world with significant concerns about this New Pandemic Treaty but his input has already been attacked by the Irish media and political opponents to debate as ‘far right’ and ‘anti-vaccination,’ before he has even spoken in the Dail.

At the Health and Democracy Conference at the European Parliament last September, Kruse stated the following:

“What can be seen today from the documents on the table about to be negotiated under the title of New Pandemic Treaty and Amendments to the International Health Regulations.

“We are here today because we are concerned by the WHO’s strong pressure to extend its powers, its structural and financial capacities with a permanent effect over the sovereignty of the countries and over the self-determination of the people.

“It was in the wake of the covid 19 crisis that the WHO has initiated a reform process which will bring significant changes to all of us, that will concern every human being and all of the 195 member states on this planet.”

“In May 2024, the 194 member states of WHO will have their final vote on these international agreements. This process takes place behind closed doors It is not reported nor discussed in our newspapers, in our national parliaments, universities not in society. “This is unacceptable...because it will eliminate the basic principle of democratic participation.”

Dr Tess Lawrie, founder of the World Council for Health group and suspended US MD Dr Meryl Nass will also appear at today’s briefing.

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