Shutterstock/Irin-k March 11, 2025 ‘I’m utterly utterly despondent and disappointed.’ Bereaved families describe being failed by the inquest system Jessica Jacobson, Birkbeck, University of London; Alex Murray, Birkbeck, University of London, and Lorna Templeton, University of Bath Many bereaved relatives hope an inquest will identify institutional failings that contributed to the death - but the system is often not up to the challenge.