Request for state coroner to recuse himself from Tuck Inquest

The lawyer acting for Shane Tuck’s widow has asked the state coroner Judge John Cain to recuse himself from the inquest into the former Richmond footballer’s death.

Greg Griffin, who is acting for Katherine Tuck in the inquest, confirmed to The Age that he had sent correspondence to the state coroner but was not prepared to go into the detail of the letter.

However, sources confirmed that his request related to Cain being a managing partner of a law firm that once represented Collingwood and Hawthorn.

The late Shane Tuck.Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

The Coroners Court held a directions hearing on October 19 where Cain stated he did not expect the inquest to look into the “sins of the past”.

He took carriage of the investigation after Simon McGregor recused himself from the inquest following submissions from the AFL asking for him to step aside, as he was the brother of a former AFLPA staff member Matt McGregor, who had referred Tuck to psychological services.

Tuck died by suicide in July 2020 aged 38, with Griffin saying at the directions hearing “it is imperative for the coronial investigation to focus on what actually did occur at the Richmond Football Club and in other AFL clubs during that nine-year period [when Tuck played AFL].”

The Coroners Court is expected to review the correspondence as part of the investigation after Cain indicated at the directions hearing he was “far more interested in what the current state of play is in relation to the management of concussion and head knocks in the AFL and boxing”.

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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via Twitter or email.

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