Edinburgh city council to offer settlement to families in Mortonhall ashes scandal

The proposed payments of between £1,000 and £4,000 and legal expenses have been decided between the council and the lawyers representing the families.

Thompsons Solicitors represents the 129 clients who found out that their children’s remains were disposed of in a mass grave without them knowing about it.

It is believed that the practice had been going on since the crematorium’s inception until 2011.

The proposed repayments are outlined in the Mortonhall Settlement report which will go before the council next Thursday, where councillors will decide whether to approve it.

Chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce, said: “The events of the past two years have understandably been distressing for families affected by the events at Mortonhall Crematorium.

“The council is taking forward all the recommendations made by Dame Elish Angiolini in her report, and will ensure nothing like this happens ever again.”

Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, (pictured) said: “In addition to the grief they face over the loss of their children the families also have to bear the deep upset caused by practices at the crematorium.

“Despite this they have shown remarkable courage and resolve to make the Scottish public aware about what had gone on.”

He added: “As a group the Mortonhall parents have displayed great solidarity and compassion to each other and it is largely through their efforts that we now have wider investigations into events at crematoria throughout Scotland.

“The Mortonhall families, through their tenacity and decency, have brought us to where we are today.

“In doing so they have ensured that in the future no other families will have to suffer distress due to unacceptable practices at our crematoria.”