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Senior official Mark Turley resigns from Edinburgh City Council over Mortonhall | Senior official Mark Turley resigns from Edinburgh City Council over Mortonhall |
(35 minutes later) | |
A senior official at the helm of a council department involved in the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal has resigned. | A senior official at the helm of a council department involved in the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal has resigned. |
Mark Turley, Edinburgh City Council's director of services for communities, had been suspended on full pay. | Mark Turley, Edinburgh City Council's director of services for communities, had been suspended on full pay. |
His department governed Mortonhall Crematorium which was condemned for burying baby ashes in secret. | His department governed Mortonhall Crematorium which was condemned for burying baby ashes in secret. |
Mr Turley said he wanted to act in an "honourable" way by accepting overall responsibility for what went wrong. | Mr Turley said he wanted to act in an "honourable" way by accepting overall responsibility for what went wrong. |
He said: "Whilst I do not believe I personally contributed to any wrongdoing at Mortonhall Crematorium, as the director with ultimate accountability I believe it is right that I do the honourable thing. | He said: "Whilst I do not believe I personally contributed to any wrongdoing at Mortonhall Crematorium, as the director with ultimate accountability I believe it is right that I do the honourable thing. |
"I have therefore asked the chief executive to accept my resignation. | "I have therefore asked the chief executive to accept my resignation. |
"I would like to thank the many partners and colleagues who have supported me through this difficult period and wish them all well for the future." | "I would like to thank the many partners and colleagues who have supported me through this difficult period and wish them all well for the future." |
Former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini published a report into the scandal in May. | Former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini published a report into the scandal in May. |
Her report found that hundreds of parents affected by the scandal had not been told that ashes were left after cremations because staff believed it was "too distressing" for them. | Her report found that hundreds of parents affected by the scandal had not been told that ashes were left after cremations because staff believed it was "too distressing" for them. |
'Difficult circumstances' | |
She said it was not known for sure what remains of which babies were interred in an unmarked "garden of remembrance" at Mortonhall. | She said it was not known for sure what remains of which babies were interred in an unmarked "garden of remembrance" at Mortonhall. |
Mr Turley's council remit also included Liberton High School, where 12-year-old Keane Wallace-Bennett died when a wall fell on her as she changed for PE in April. | |
He was also involved in the statutory repairs scandal at the council, leading the internal investigation into both the property conservation and property care departments. | |
A report into the scandal found "serious and wide-ranging management failure" allowed it to become £30m in debt. Eleven people were sacked and six suspended. | |
Council chief executive Sue Bruce confirmed the investigation into Mr Turley's conduct over Mortonhall had now been scrapped. | |
She said: "Mark has made a significant contribution to this council and to the city over the past 20 years, in particular in relation to the provision of housing. | She said: "Mark has made a significant contribution to this council and to the city over the past 20 years, in particular in relation to the provision of housing. |
"I respect the decision he has taken in these difficult circumstances. | "I respect the decision he has taken in these difficult circumstances. |
"I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that Mark was placed under precautionary suspension to allow an investigation to take place. | "I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that Mark was placed under precautionary suspension to allow an investigation to take place. |
"This is standard practice in such circumstances. In light of Mark's decision, that investigation will not now proceed." | "This is standard practice in such circumstances. In light of Mark's decision, that investigation will not now proceed." |
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