Dr Andrew Reid has been suspended from his coroner role since February

Published: 10 December, 2012
EXCLUSIVE by RICHARD OSLEY

THE coroner investigated for hiring his unqualified wife to preside over inquests – including a hearing into Amy Winehouse's death – has resigned from the job, the New Journal can reveal.

St Pancras Coroner Dr Andrew Reid offered his resignation on Friday. He has been suspended since February after an inquiry was launched by the Office for Judicial Complaints.

In an email circulated to councillors this afternoon – seen by the New Journal – the Town Hall's community safety chief Councillor Abdul Hai said: "As you will be aware, Dr Andrew Reid, Coroner for Inner North London, was suspended from his role by the Office of Judicial Complaints earlier in the year while they investigated the circumstances surrounding the appointment of his wife as an assistant deputy coroner. I wanted to make you aware that Dr Reid tendered his resignation to the Chief Executive on Friday 7 December 2012. A recruitment process will now be undertaken to fill this role, but in the interim period Dr Shirley Radcliffe will continue as her role as Acting Coroner."

In a statement at the time of his suspension earlier this year, Dr Reid said that in the hiring of assistant deputy coroner, Suzanne Greenaway, there had been an “error in the appointment process”.

Ms Greenaway, his wife, oversaw the inquest into Amy Winehouse's death and several other cases. Officials suggested she took the job in “good faith” but past experience as a barrister in her native Australia could not be taken into consideration under the appointment rules.

It is not clear what stage the Office for Judicial Complaints had reached with its investigation.