Mortonhall ashes: Mothers in plea to parliament

BEREAVED parents took photographs of their dead infants to Holyrood yesterday as they stepped up their campaign for a public inquiry into the baby ashes scandal.

Ruth Davidson listens to the parents at Holyrood yesterday. Picture: PA

Parents hoped that presenting politicians with pictures of their “precious babies” would assist their case for a public inquiry.

It already has the backing of Labour leader Johann Lamont and Tory chief Ruth Davidson, who were at yesterday’s meeting.

But they hit out at First Minister Alex Salmond for refusing to attend a cross-party meeting between MSPs and campaigners.

Willie Reid, chair of Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee (Maac) from Edinburgh, said he invited the First Minister after meeting him last week.

But Mr Reid said: “He made an instant refusal at that time. He didn’t give a reason. He just said he couldn’t make it.

“I e-mailed him and said: ‘You’ve already refused to answer two of my previous e-mails. You did promise to write to me’.

“We are now seven days down the line and he still hasn’t.

“I also asked if he could send along his most senior Cabinet secretary. Well, is anybody from the SNP here?”

It emerged last year that the ashes of dead babies in Edinburgh had been scattered without their parents’ permission over a period of decades – and other cases have since come to light across Scotland. A full public inquiry has so far been ruled out by the Scottish Government, which has instead set up a commission to look at how the law can be tightened.

The group Glasgow Answers for Ashes Parents (Gaap), which represents those affected in the city, also attended yesterday’s meeting.

Gaap chair Linsay Bonar said: “Parents like myself have felt dejected and quite frankly insulted by the clinical and dismissive manner in which the First Minister in particular has referenced our plight in the Scottish Parliament.

“Each and every one of us fighting for the truth has lost a much-loved and much-wanted baby and the only way we can truly grieve our losses is to know what happened to their ashes.”

Ms Lamont, who is also the MSP for Glasgow Pollok, said after yesterday’s meeting: “The Scottish Government must listen to their moving and compelling case and give bereaved families the answers they deserve.”

Ms Davidson added: “The Scottish Government’s response is inadequate and it is being left behind by events.”

An independent commission, led by former High Court judge Lord Bonomy, has already been established by the Scottish Government.

It will review policies and practice across Scotland in relation to the handling of ashes following the cremation of babies and infants, and make recommendations for improvements.

Meanwhile, former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini is chairing an investigation into practices at Mortonhall.

The Scottish Government said Mr Salmond had contacted Mr Reid to apologise for being unable to make yesterday’s meeting and offered a meeting with public health minister Michael Matheson.