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Shrewsbury 'lost baby ashes' probe finds 60 cases | Shrewsbury 'lost baby ashes' probe finds 60 cases |
(about 11 hours later) | |
At least 60 families have been affected by a crematorium's failure to return the ashes of dead babies to bereaved parents, an inquiry has found. | At least 60 families have been affected by a crematorium's failure to return the ashes of dead babies to bereaved parents, an inquiry has found. |
The probe was launched after a BBC investigation found Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury had only returned one of 30 sets of remains since 2004. | The probe was launched after a BBC investigation found Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury had only returned one of 30 sets of remains since 2004. |
In a progress report, inquiry head David Jenkins said a trawl of cremation records over the past 15 years had found more cases. | In a progress report, inquiry head David Jenkins said a trawl of cremation records over the past 15 years had found more cases. |
The full report is due in April. | The full report is due in April. |
Mr Jenkins, a former Dorset County Council chief who was selected to lead the Shropshire Council-commissioned inquiry in December, said he had met bereaved parents and crematorium staff during his investigation. | |
Parents had "felt their grief made all the more intense" by what they perceived as an unsatisfactory experience at the hands of the crematorium, he said. | Parents had "felt their grief made all the more intense" by what they perceived as an unsatisfactory experience at the hands of the crematorium, he said. |
"Their sense of anger and anguish arising from the lack of identifiable ashes is acute and real." | "Their sense of anger and anguish arising from the lack of identifiable ashes is acute and real." |
Mr Jenkins met with bereaved parents at a public meeting at Shrewsbury Baptist Church on Monday night. | |
Karen Prior, whose son Lewis was cremated ten years ago, said the meeting was "very emotional". | |
"There were lots of things we didn't want to hear again because it's bringing it back - the day we lost Lewis. | |
"But I think the meeting went well and I think we have just got to wait for the outcome of the inquiry." | |
Glen Perkins, whose four-month-old daughter Olivia was cremated at Emstrey Crematorium in December 2007, said the meeting was "very challenging". | |
"We are the ones who have to be heard - the council have had their say, the crematorium have given their point of view and now it's our turn. | |
"We deserve answers, we deserve people to be taken to task for this." | |
The inquiry aims to establish what happened to the remains of a number of babies and young children cremated at Emstrey over the last 15 years. | The inquiry aims to establish what happened to the remains of a number of babies and young children cremated at Emstrey over the last 15 years. |
Mr Jenkins said staff had told him it was not possible for the crematorium's equipment to be "operated in such a way as to enable the return of a child's ashes". | |
He said his impression of workers at the site was of "conscientious professionals, trying to do the best they can for bereaved families". | He said his impression of workers at the site was of "conscientious professionals, trying to do the best they can for bereaved families". |
The remainder of the investigation would focus on cases before December 2012, when new furnaces were installed at the site. | The remainder of the investigation would focus on cases before December 2012, when new furnaces were installed at the site. |
Most relevant cases before this time had been registered as "no ashes obtainable", Mr Jenkins said. | Most relevant cases before this time had been registered as "no ashes obtainable", Mr Jenkins said. |
Shropshire Council, which owns the crematorium, and Co-operative Funeralcare, which has managed the site since 2009, are due to submit evidence to the inquiry on past and present cremation policies. | Shropshire Council, which owns the crematorium, and Co-operative Funeralcare, which has managed the site since 2009, are due to submit evidence to the inquiry on past and present cremation policies. |