BABY ASHES: JOHNSTONE SAYS PAINFUL REPORT IS TRAGEDY FOR PARENTS
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, is describing today's report on the Mortonhall crematorium scandal as painful reading and a real tragedy for parents.
Staff buried or scattered baby ashes in secret for decades, telling more than 250 families that there were no ashes left when young babies were cremated.
Today's report by Dame Elish Angiolini reveals that baby ashes were cremated in the evening, and any ash found in the morning would be mixed in with the first adult cremation.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
"It is hard to imagine the pain the affected parents will feel upon reading this report. Over recent decades our society has come to expect sensitivity and openness when dealing with child deaths, yet it seems the management culture at Mortonhall failed to realise this.
"I await with interest the results of the Bonomy inquiry into how infant remains have been dealt with throughout Scotland. We must ensure no chance of such a tragedy ever happening again."