The family of a man who died in police custody said it was a 'key priority' for them that a new inquest into his death begins as soon as possible.
A provisional four-week 'window' for a full inquest hearing was set by a coroner for January next year. That will be more than FIVE years after 48-year-old JCB driver David Molloy's death in September, 2017, after he was arrested in Bolton.
At the time, Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to reports of a disturbance on Elgin Street in Halliwell, Bolton, at 1.40am on Sunday, September 10.
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Mr Molloy, from Swinton, Salford, and another man in the house were spoken to and Mr Molloy was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a breach of the peace.
But as he was being transported to a police station in a liveried van, GMP said he suffered a 'medical episode'. He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where he died later at around 3am, a force spokesman said.
His death sparked an investigation by the police watchdog the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). An inquest before a jury started in March 2020, but was adjourned ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
At a pre-inquest review hearing held at Bolton Coroner's Court on Wednesday, area coroner Peter Sigee said there had been 'various roadblocks' in the case.
He said of Wednesday's hearing: "It has been some time since this matter was last in court and the primary purpose is to reflect on where we are and seek to set down some directions to be able to get this matter to progress to a final hearing.
"Time has passed since matters were last in court. There were various roadblocks that I have encountered along the way."
One 'significant' issue was said to be the preparation of a transcript of the aborted inquest, which the court heard was now being done.
Barrister Laura Profumo, representing the Molloy family, said it had been five years since Mr Molloy's death and a 'key priority' for the family was that the inquest should be listed 'as soon as possible'.
Mr Sigee said if he identified an earlier 'window', he would notify all parties involved in the case.
The officers involved, the hearing was told, were also anxious to see the inquest heard as soon as it could be.
Evidence and the disclosure of evidence was also discussed at the hearing, together with witness lists, and Mr Sigee said he would be seeking to obtain further evidence from North West Ambulance Service.
A final pre-inquest review hearing was set for a date to be confirmed in September.
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