Mortonhall campaigners team up with Glasgow group

GRIEVING Mortonhall campaigners have joined forces with parents from across the country to demand a public inquiry into the baby ashes scandal.

Members of MAAC at the Scottish Parliament yesterday. Picture: Neil Hanna

• SEE ALSO: Mortonhall baby ashes inquiry calls ‘unanswerable’

As further evidence continues to emerge of similar scandals at crematoria across Scotland, members of Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee (MAAC) revealed they had joined forces with parents from Glasgow to put pressures on MSPs.

At Holyrood yesterday the contingent retold their harrowing tales to politicians while urging them to cave in to their demands for a full public inquiry.

Willie Reid, chairman of MAAC, welcomed the joint initiative between Mortonhall campaigners and more than 20 similarly affected parents from Glasgow.

He said: “We need MSPs to begin standing up for their constituents and demand a public inquiry. This isn’t going away. By joining together we can make our voice louder and clearer.

“We’ve now had cases in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Falkirk. As parents, all we want are the answers.”

Last week, Public Health Minister Michael Matheson announced a commission to review legislation surrounding the cremation of remains and a separate investigation is also now under way into practices at Mortonhall, led by former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini.

However, parents believe only a full public inquiry can provide the answers they seek.

Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale, who chaired the meeting, said: “The commission has been set up to reform the law around cremation. That won’t help these parents in finding out where their child’s ashes are or why they went through what they did. People need to hear the truth and that is why a public inquiry is needed.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said the commission could achieve consistency for parents across Scotland.

He said: “Recent cases have demonstrated that the existing legislation and current industry practice is falling short of what the public deserves. The commission will make its recommendation by the end of this year and is the fastest way to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of ashes is put in place across Scotland.”