Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2025
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2025-0532, written 17 Oct 2025. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 17 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2025-0532 |
| Deceased | Owen Donnelly |
| Coroner | Timothy Brennand |
| Coroner area | Manchester (West) |
| Category | Suicide (from 2015) |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1) NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Secretary of State for the Home Department House of Commons London SW1A 0AA 1 CORONER I am Timothy William Brennand, HM Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of Greater Manchester (West) 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 18th of February 2025, I commenced an investigation into the death of OWEN AUSTIN DONNELLY, aged 19 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 16th of October 2025.. The medical cause of death was; 1a wound to the head The conclusion of the inquest was a short form conclusion of ‘Suicide’ 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH On the morning of the 16th of February 2025, the deceased was discovered in the garden of his residence at 103 Ruskin Avenue, Wigan in a collapsed and unresponsive condition with a head injury that transpired to have been a self-inflicted single wound from which he was verified dead by attending paramedics. The weapon used was a homemade, improvised ‘ precise circumstances of when it was manufactured and why retained by the deceased remains unclear. ’ – albeit the Police recovered an unequivocal note of intent handwritten by the deceased from within his motor car. His postmortem samples established him to have been moderately intoxicated from alcohol he had been seen taking during the previous night out with friends. The evidence established that the deceased’s actions have been deliberate and intentional, albeit an impulsive, illogical and irrational act in the context of recent emotional dysregulation associated with his private life causing him to experience low mood and self- esteem, anxiety with elements of paranoia, potentially exacerbated by his recent consumption of anabolic steroids in preceding weeks. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows:- 1. The deceased was able research, access, download and then to make use of , widely available on the internet, primarily from the United States, 2. The possession of that can enable an individual to construct a is not currently a criminal offence. expert that there is an alarming proliferation 3. I heard evidence from a of weapons within England and Wales, that are unlicenced and therefore increasingly available for criminal or nefarious purposes. 4. A Bill criminalising the possession of such is awaiting a second reading before Parliament. Until such time proposed legislation is enacted, there remains a real and immediate risk that individuals may access the internet 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and/or your organization have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 28th November 2025. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 8 COPIES and PUBLICATION I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons; 1. 2. 3. 4. – parents of the deceased , Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police Chief Executive, College of Policing , Labour MP for Makerfield I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any other person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response. 9 17th October 2025
1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.
Minister of State for Policing and Crime 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office Timothy Brennand HM Coroner’s Court and Office for Manchester PaderBorn House Howell Croft North Bolton BL1 1QY Dear Timothy, 20 November 2025 INQUEST FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF OWEN AUSTIN DONNELLY REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS UNDER REGULATIONS 28 AND 29 OF THE CORONERS (INVESTIGATIONS) REGULATIONS 2013 I am writing to thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 21 October 2025 following the inquest into the death of Owen Donnelly which concluded on 16 October 2025. In your report you highlighted four specific concerns relating to the availability of manufacture of such action is taken. I would like to pass on my condolences to Owen’s parents and family and friends about this tragic loss of life. that you consider present a risk of future deaths unless for the I am able to confirm that all of your recommendations should be addressed before the New Year. Turning to your report, the first of your concerns was that are readily accessible on the internet to enable the construction of . Your second concern was that the possession of such be addressed by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is currently completing its passage through the House of Lords. Once enacted, the Bill will make it a criminal offence to import, make, adapt, supply, offer to supply and is not currently a criminal offence. These two concerns will that can be used The measures in this Bill relating to ground as the Private Member’s Bill that you also mention in your letter. It is the Government’s aim that the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will achieve Royal Assent by the Parliamentary Recess at the end of December. cover the same You were also concerned about the proliferation of a It is already the case that . For the purposes of the , the method of manufacture is immaterial. . Penalties for possession include up to 10 years imprisonment with a minimum penalty of 5 years, and life for manufacturing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition. The Government keeps the controls on all agency response in place to address emerging issues relating to is led by the National Crime Agency. This provides a forum for collaborative work which includes understanding the threat, industry engagement and forensics development, and ensures we are able to respond to new under constant review. There is multi- threats. which controls, Thank you again for your report. Public safety is at the heart of our which is why we continue to take action to ensure that we have the strongest possible safeguards and legislation in place. Very best wishes, Minister of State for Policing and Crime
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