A NORTH Yorkshire family's anguished wait for an inquest into the death of their son is almost at an end.

The inquiry into the death of student Daniel Cooke suffered from a series of setbacks because the City of York Council could not provide a suitable venue.

Daniel, a diagnosed schizophrenic, died while under restraint at Clifton Hospital last April.

But, because an appropriate location could not be found, the inquest was repeatedly delayed, prompting "exasperated" York coroner Donald Coverdale to launch a scathing attack on the Council.

Now, after the case was taken up by the Evening Press, a date has finally been fixed, and the inquest will be held in the Guildhall on February 25.

For Daniel's father Peter Cooke, of Back Lane, Easingwold, the findings will come as a relief and will put an end to the questions surrounding his son's death.

He said: "We're pleased that we have a date and the uncertainty of how Daniel died will be cleared up. It is still a big mystery how it happened.

"I would like to express some appreciation to the Press and thank it for whatever action has happened in response to the questions asked on our behalf.

"We can now get this matter dealt with," he added.

Mr Cooke spoke to the Evening Press after Mr Coverdale, astounded by the delay, took the unusual step of advising him to complain to a councillor.

Normally inquests in York are held in the county court, magistrates court or the Friends Meeting House, but because Daniel's is expected to last up to two days and would involve a jury, these venues were considered unsuitable.

With the Guildhall date now confirmed, Mr Coverdale said he too was relieved the inquiry could finally be completed.

He said: "The situation is all satisfactory now as far as I am concerned, it is just unfortunate the Council could not get its act together when I originally asked them last October."

A council spokesman said finding a suitable venue for such an inquest had been a difficult matter, but the problem was now resolved.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.