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Mortonhall baby ashes: Report on scandal to be released next week | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Edinburgh council chiefs have confirmed that a report into the baby ashes scandal at Mortonhall is to be published next week. | |
Dame Elish Angiolini submitted her investigation into the cremation of babies at the council-run crematorium last week. | |
Council chiefs have now agreed to publish the report on 30 April. | |
The crematorium buried or scattered the ashes of babies for decades. | The crematorium buried or scattered the ashes of babies for decades. |
But parents had been told there would be nothing left to scatter after their babies had been cremated. Hundreds of families were affected and many are considering legal action. | But parents had been told there would be nothing left to scatter after their babies had been cremated. Hundreds of families were affected and many are considering legal action. |
Former Dame Elish, the former lord advocate, gave her findings to the council on 14 April after a probe into former practices at the crematorium. | Former Dame Elish, the former lord advocate, gave her findings to the council on 14 April after a probe into former practices at the crematorium. |
The chief executive of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce, has said she needed to read Dame Elish Angiolini's report thoroughly before setting a date. | |
She said: "Due to the length of the report, we expect to publish it on Wednesday 30 April with parents receiving a personal copy that morning, ahead of wider publication. | |
"I intend to write to parents personally tomorrow to advise them of this. I understand how anxious they are to receive the report and hope this timescale will reassure them." | |
Dorothy Maitland, operations director of the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) Lothians, who is also one of the affected parents, said she was "very, very disappointed" that no-one from the council had let her know they had received the report. | Dorothy Maitland, operations director of the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) Lothians, who is also one of the affected parents, said she was "very, very disappointed" that no-one from the council had let her know they had received the report. |
She told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think they could have informed us that the report was with the council. None of us have slept last night. | She told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think they could have informed us that the report was with the council. None of us have slept last night. |
"I would like to meet with Sue Bruce and discuss how we are going to support all these parents, bearing in mind that I am an affected parent and I am very scared that what I have actually been told is in fact not the truth. | "I would like to meet with Sue Bruce and discuss how we are going to support all these parents, bearing in mind that I am an affected parent and I am very scared that what I have actually been told is in fact not the truth. |
"Everybody's emotions are going all over the place at the moment." | "Everybody's emotions are going all over the place at the moment." |
Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represents many of the families involved, said: "Firstly, I would have to say the families and myself are stunned that we learned this news through reports in the media. | Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represents many of the families involved, said: "Firstly, I would have to say the families and myself are stunned that we learned this news through reports in the media. |
"My clients are bereaved parents who have been to hell and back over this whole business and they expect to be treated in a sympathetic and decent manner. | "My clients are bereaved parents who have been to hell and back over this whole business and they expect to be treated in a sympathetic and decent manner. |
"Being kept properly informed is the least they could expect from Edinburgh City Council after what they have been through." | "Being kept properly informed is the least they could expect from Edinburgh City Council after what they have been through." |