Six Inquests Set to Be Opened by Cumbria Coroner Next Week

Six inquests are due to be opened by the Cumbria coroner next week, according to the official inquest diary published by HM Coroner’s Service.

The hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026, and will be overseen by coroner Kirsty Gomersal.

The cases involve six people from across the county: Lesley-Ann Arts, 43, from Barrow-in-Furness; Mark Donaughee, 69, from Workington; Lara Siobhan Doherty, 26, from Carlisle; Annette Smith, 60, from Barrow-in-Furness; Charlie Alexis Chapman-Wilsher, 16, from Appleby-in-Westmorland; and Helen Joanne Nicholson, 53, from Maryport.

The official diary records the dates and locations of the deaths, which occurred between June and October 2026. The inquests are part of the coroner’s legal process for formally establishing the circumstances surrounding a death.

An inquest opening is an initial procedural hearing and does not necessarily mean the full investigation will be completed on that day. Further proceedings may be scheduled if additional evidence or inquiries are required.

Coroners’ inquests are public hearings intended to establish who died, and when, where and how the death occurred, along with any other facts required by law. They are not criminal trials and are not held to determine criminal guilt.

Further details about the individual cases may become available as the proceedings continue.

The schedule is published by HM Coroner’s Service for Cumbria and may be updated if hearing arrangements change.

Got a news story or tip to share? Contact our editorial team by emailing news@lakelandpost.co.uk or call us directly on 0333 090 2080.