PRESTON DAVEY INQUEST UNLIKELY TO RESUME UNTIL 2027

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND — The inquest into the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey is highly likely to resume, but not before 2027, following a pre-inquest review hearing that outlined the next steps in the legal process.

The hearing took place after the conclusion of the criminal trial in which Jamie Varley was convicted of Preston’s murder and sentenced to a whole-life order.

Safeguarding Review Delays Proceedings

During the hearing, the coroner was told that Oldham Council has restarted its independent child safeguarding review following evidence that emerged during the criminal proceedings.

The review will examine the involvement of agencies responsible for Preston’s care and whether there were opportunities to identify the abuse or intervene before his death.

According to the timetable presented to the court, the safeguarding review is not expected to be completed until January 2027, meaning the inquest is unlikely to resume before then.

Article 2 Inquest Under Consideration

The coroner also indicated there is a provisional view that Preston’s case may proceed as an Article 2 inquest under the European Convention on Human Rights.

If ultimately designated as an Article 2 inquest, the proceedings could examine not only how Preston died, but also whether public authorities fulfilled their duty to protect his life and whether systemic failings contributed to the tragedy.

No final decision has yet been made on whether the inquest will proceed on that basis.

Continuing Search for Answers

While the criminal case has concluded, the inquest will focus on understanding the wider circumstances surrounding Preston’s death and identifying lessons that may improve child safeguarding in the future.

The proceedings are expected to consider evidence from social services, healthcare providers, police, and other agencies involved in Preston’s care.

For Preston’s family, the inquest represents another important step in seeking answers and ensuring any safeguarding failures are fully examined.

Preston Davey was just 13 months old.
The inquest is now expected to resume no earlier than 2027.
The safeguarding review will help inform the next stage of the proceedings.

Sources:

• BBC News – https://www.bbc.com/news