Public bodies involved in the life of murdered toddler Preston Davey must be scrutinised, a coroner has said as he indicated it is "highly likely" an inquest will be held into the 13-month-old's death.
Alan Wilson, Senior Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde, told Blackpool Coroner's Court on Monday that there was sufficient reason to resume proceedings into Preston's death, although a final decision will be made after submissions from lawyers representing a number of public bodies.
Preston, described during criminal proceedings as a "highly visible" adopted child, was murdered by his adoptive father Jamie Varley during a sexual assault at the family's Blackpool home on July 27, 2023.
Varley, 37, a former secondary school teacher, was handed a whole-life order in June after being convicted of murder and 24 other offences following an eight-week trial.
His partner and co-adopter, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years.
The trial heard the couple had treated Preston as their "plaything", subjecting him to what prosecutors described as "unremitting abuse" involving repeated sexual assaults and physical attacks.
Preston had been taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on three occasions before his death and had contact with multiple agencies, including healthcare professionals, social workers and welfare staff.
An inquest was opened shortly after Preston's death, but later suspended while Lancashire Police carried out their investigation, and criminal proceedings took place.
Addressing the court, Mr Wilson said he now had to consider whether an inquest was necessary, given that many issues had already been explored during the criminal trial.
However, he added: "I feel there's sufficient reason to resume.
"There are acts and omissions of public authorities that need to be scrutinised in a public hearing in which Preston's family can participate.
"It's clearly going to be a wide-ranging inquiry."
The coroner said that while there had been calls for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Preston's death, that decision was outside his remit.
The court heard a safeguarding review being carried out by Oldham Safeguarding Children's Partnership has resumed after being paused during the criminal proceedings.
The review is not expected to be completed until January 2027, meaning any inquest is unlikely to take place before then, and could be held in autumn next year at the earliest.
Much of Monday's hearing focused on identifying which individuals and organisations should be granted legal representation at any future inquest.
Lawyers attended on behalf of Preston's biological mother, Sara Davey, and grandmother, Debbie Davey.
The court heard Preston was born while his mother was serving a prison sentence.
After an application for a place in a mother and baby unit was refused, he was removed under a court order obtained by Oldham Council and placed with temporary carers before being adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.
Adoption Now, the agency involved in Preston's adoption, was represented at the hearing, together with Bolton Council, which acts as the host authority for the organisation.
The court heard both Bolton and Oldham councils had roles in the adoption process.
Legal representatives also appeared for Preston's father, Gary Nolan, and for the NHS trust responsible for Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
The hearing was told it remains to be decided whether South Shore Academy, where Varley worked as a teacher, should be designated as an interested person for any future inquest.
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A decision is also yet to be made on whether Lancashire Police will require separate legal representation.
During the criminal trial, jurors heard officers were contacted after Preston was first taken to hospital with injuries and safeguarding concerns were raised, but no further action was taken at that stage.
Mr Wilson adjourned the matter until a further hearing in October.
Addressing Preston's father at the end of proceedings, he said: "Please accept everyone's condolences.
"I'm conscious we are approaching his anniversary."
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