Move to quash living father’s inquest

The country’s top judges could be asked to quash the inquest into a mystery man thought to have been Oldham father John Delaney.

He went missing eight years ago and, unknown to his family, he had been found wandering in Copsterhill Road, dazed and confused, suffering total memory loss.

As he was cared for in a social services home, the badly decomposed body of a man was found in the grounds of Manchester Royal Infirmary five years ago.

Because it had similar old wounds and clothing, it was thought to be Mr Delaney, and an inquest was held so his family could carry out a funeral. The body was cremated.

Manchester City Coroner Nigel Meadows, who was not in post at the time, is now taking legal advice after Mr Delaney was reunited with his son, John Renehan.

Mr Renehan had spotted his father on a BBC TV programme about missing people.

Now the mystery is who was cremated five years ago.

Mr Meadows said: “Coroners are independent judicial officers. In terms of this case I am considering the best way to deal with the position and will take appropriate advice about applying to the High Court to quash the original Inquisition and holding a fresh inquest in the absence of a body.

“With that in mind, it is both unfair and inappropriate to make any more reference to this particular case because of the feelings of any relatives involved.”