Shropshire baby ashes scandal: We still need answers, say families

Speaking out for the first time since the publication of an inquiry report into infant and baby cremations at Shrewsbury's Emstrey Crematorium, families who make up the campaign group Action for Ashes have welcomed its recommendations, but remain staggered that no-one has been held accountable.

Dozens of bereaved parents were left with no ashes after the cremation of their children.

Inquiry chairman David Jenkins said that between the years 2000 and 2011 there had been 51 cremations at Emstrey where parents were told no ashes would be returned.

In his report published on Monday he said that although the manufacturers of the equipment used at the crematorium said it could return ashes, his evidence showed "that if it was possible it would have been very difficult", despite other crematoriums around the country being able to do so.

As part of his report Mr Jenkins has drawn up a series of recommendations, including the creation of a national inspector for crematoriums, which will now be sent to the Government to be considered.

But Rhiannon Stanton-Davies, 40, from Ludlow, whose newborn daughter Kate died as a result of medical negligence in 2009, said she did not believe the inquiry set up by Shropshire Council had done enough to explain why parents were left with no ashes.

She said: "We are deeply concerned that the investigation is not far-reaching or thorough. For example, it has not included interviews with the cremation managers who were in place at the time of our daughter's cremation, nor with the senior council staff who were fiscally responsible for the running of the crematorium at the time."

She added: "We want them held to account."

Action for Ashes founder Glen Perkins, from Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, and his wife Louise lost their four-month-old daughter Olivia to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2007.

He said he was disappointed that there had been no recommendation for a national inquiry into the issue.

He added: "I am still calling on the Justice Minister to do the right thing and agree to a national investigation. These atrocities are still happening."

Andrew Morris, 33, of Shrewsbury, whose unborn son Matthew was cremated at Emstrey, also backed the call for a national investigation.

He said: "Current practice nationwide needs to cease at once so no other families have to experience the further pain and suffering we had to endure in addition to the grief caused by our losses."

Mrs Stanton-Davies said that she and her husband Richard still do not know where their daughter's ashes went despite the inquiry.

She said: "We now believe that her ashes were thrown away as so-called 'fly ash' and likely buried in the ground of the crematorium at Shrewsbury.

"We feel sick to our very soul and our despair is indescribable."

Mr Morris said he was also shocked that the inquiry had not been able to say where the ashes had gone.

He said: "This is not a satisfactory explanation and certainly provides no closure for our family or justice for our baby boy."

Ruth Allum, 37, of St Martins, explained how she had been traumatised at finding out what had taken place at the crematorium.

The inquiry revealed that her twins, Dylan and Courtney, who died hours apart in August 2002, had not actually been cremated together as she had believed.

She said: "They were cremated separately. They had both died within minutes of each other and it was like they went together and I know it sounds silly but I like to think they were able to go together but then to find out that they didn't was devastating."

Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council, which is now responsible for the crematorium, has offered an apology to the bereaved families on behalf of the authority, while Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow has pledged to support families in their campaign for action at a national level following the inquiry findings.