Why is that the only way? In my view once someone's dead they're dead and waiting a bit longer for a funeral/cremation isn't going to make much difference, but other people have beliefs that mean having a burial ASAP is important to them. I don't see why their requests were just being dismissed out of hand. I would think someone in this position should have some compassion and be a bit more flexible. She could easily take requests into consideration and ask relatives of those higher up the queue if they minded waiting a little longer so she could grant a request made for religious reasons. I personally wouldn't mind if it was a matter of a day or two, but equally if others did mind then she could reasonably say to the person making the request sorry but I tried.

The real issue is that she lacked compassion or any common sense.

Why is that the only way? In my view once someone's dead they're dead and waiting a bit longer for a funeral/cremation isn't going to make much difference, but other people have beliefs that mean having a burial ASAP is important to them. I don't see why their requests were just being dismissed out of hand. I would think someone in this position should have some compassion and be a bit more flexible. She could easily take requests into consideration and ask relatives of those higher up the queue if they minded waiting a little longer so she could grant a request made for religious reasons. I personally wouldn't mind if it was a matter of a day or two, but equally if others did mind then she could reasonably say to the person making the request sorry but I tried.

The real issue is that she lacked compassion or any common sense.

No. As I said there is no reason she couldn't have been a bit more sensible and compassionate. She acted like a complete jobsworth.

If she'd been kinder and at least showed she was doing her best to take people's wishes into consideration while reminding them that she has other cases to deal with then none of this would have happened. Most people will be reasonable and willing to wait a bit if they can see the person on the other side is at least listening to them and doing their best to accommodate reasonable requests.

Under Jewish and Islamic law, bodies must be buried on the day of death or as soon as possible afterwards. Which is what was happening.

This case has nothing to do with the rights of the dead but Ms Van Der Zyl and The Board of Deputies of British Jews wanting preferential treatment for Jews.

Not content with (ridiculously) winning their case, they want the coroner to resign for doing her job.

I am starting a new religion which only belief is that when I die The Board of Deputies of British Jews have to pay for my funeral and wake. For them not to would be against my human rights.

I'm sure they'd all appreciate it if she decided to tell them how to do their jobs and in what order.

Religion shouldn't be taken into consideration for giving anyone preferential treatment. It's the very opposite of equality.

Surely she was just being honest? In the interests of equality, she was refusing to prioritise one religious group over any other - which is the very definition of equality.

Of course, she could have lied and said "I'll do my best but we are very busy" and just continued to treat all cases equally, but what would that have achieved?