Story perspectives

Media backlash precedes Arday’s suicide, coroner opens inquest

8/29/2026

Summary

Morris Opens Inquest

Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris opened an inquest after Arday was found unresponsive.
Morris urged media to report responsibly and respect Arday’s family.
Arday’s family watched the ten-minute hearing via video link and demanded press harassment stop.
A memorial fundraiser raised nearly £225,000 from 7,900 donors for his family and funeral.
Police classified the death as unexpected and said the scene was not suspicious.

Summary

Arday Suicide

Cambridge University professor Jason Arday died by suicide after a media campaign accusing him of plagiarism.
The Telegraph published 42 articles while NewsCord counted 229 articles in 22 days.
188 of those articles appeared in the nine days before his death, averaging about 21 per day.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for a national inquiry into the media’s treatment of Arday.

Summary

Ghent Suspends Cofnas

Ghent’s philosophy department issued a 19-page report questioning Cofnas’s expertise in liberalism, demography and intelligence research.
Rector Petra De Sutter permitted Cofnas to resume 60 % of his postdoctoral duties remotely during the investigation.
U.S. ambassador Bill White warned the United States might review ties with Ghent over Cofnas’s suspension.
Ghent University received two Department of Defense grants totaling $869,000, raising concerns about funding sources.

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Morris Opens Inquest

Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris opened an inquest after Arday was found unresponsive.
Morris urged media to report responsibly and respect Arday’s family.
Arday’s family watched the ten-minute hearing via video link and demanded press harassment stop.
A memorial fundraiser raised nearly £225,000 from 7,900 donors for his family and funeral.
Police classified the death as unexpected and said the scene was not suspicious.

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