Isle of Wight blogger ejected from coroner's court

Disturbing news from the Isle of Wight, where local blogger Simon Perry was forced to leave an inquest.

Inquests are open to members of the public, and it is common for members of the press to be present.

As an National Union of Journalists member who regularly blogs on issues related to the Isle of Wight, Perry is fairly clearly a journalist, as Paul Bradshaw highlights.

Richard Leedham, the coroner's officer, gave communication between coroner John Matthews and the bloggers as why the coroner did not either recognise Perry as press or want him to attend as members of the public.

He was also told that the court was full, despite someone leaving to make space for him.

Perry left the court after a police officer standing in front of the door refused to allow him to enter.

More at VentnorBlog.

Ventnor Town Council's website does not have any information on inquests, so I am linking to a page from Waltham Forest Council (scroll down to "The following is a brief synopsis of the work of the Coroner".)