Legal claims against crematoria over baby ashes scandal to resume following damning report

In a report by Dame Elish Angiolini published yesterday it was revealed the ashes of babies and unrelated adults at one crematorium were mixed.

More than 100 legal cases against crematoria over their disposal of baby ashes will resume following the publication of the report.

In some cases baby coffins were placed on top of adult ones and cremated together.

Thompsons Solicitors said up to 20 cases in Glasgow and a comparable number in Aberdeen were being prepared against crematoria owners.

Claims will probably be similar to the payouts made in the wake of the Mortonhall scandal – between £1,000 and £4,000. Mortonhall Crematoriumlied to around 250 families, telling them there were no remains of their babies to bury. The remains were, in fact, secretly buried or scattered.

Other local councils were found to have had similar practices in place.

Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors, who represents many of the families, said: “What she has uncovered about the Hazelhead Crematorium in Aberdeen will fill any right thinking person with revulsion.

“I find it difficult to believe that the horror of what was going on at Hazelhead was unknown to council officials.”

Andrew Kerr, Edinburgh City Council chief executive, said that “lessons have been learnt and a robust action plan produced which has now been implemented and practices changed”.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The council previously adopted recommendations made in the Mortonhall Investigation Report of 2013.

“However, we will review our practices again to ensure the recommendations in Dame Elish’s national report are implemented in full. Any claims against the council will be considered in the appropriate manner as and when they are received.”