The City of Edinburgh Council will decide on a proposed settlement scheme developed with the solicitors representing families affected by past practices at Mortonhall Crematorium.
The settlement scheme reached with Thompsons Solicitors, who are representing 129 clients, provides for payments of £1,000 and £4,000 depending on circumstances, together with payment of legal expenses.
Details of the scheme are covered in the Mortonhall Crematorium – Settlement of Claims report which is going before the City of Edinburgh Council next week.
Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The events of the past two years have understandably been distressing for families affected by the events at Mortonhall Crematorium. The Council is taking forward all the recommendations made by Dame Elish Angiolini in her report, and will ensure nothing like this happens ever again.
“On 5 February the Council will also consider a proposed scheme that offers an alternative means of settling claims from affected families, represented by Thompsons, and would avoid the need for parents to pursue their cases through the courts.
“Our work on the Mortonhall Multi-Agency Working Group is progressing well and designs have now been produced for potential memorials. Further details are available in the Mortonhall Action Plan: Update report.”
Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, commented: “The past two years have been extremely distressing for the families affected by events at Mortonhall. In addition to the grief they face over the loss of their children the families also have to bear the deep upset caused by practices at the crematorium. Despite this they have shown remarkable courage and resolve to make the Scottish public aware about what had gone on.
“As a group the Mortonhall parents have displayed great solidarity and compassion to each other and it is largely through their efforts that we now have wider investigations into events at crematoria throughout Scotland.
“The proposed settlement scheme makes very clear that none of the families we represent will be excluded and again this is testament to the strong will and dignity shown by my clients.
“The Mortonhall families, through their tenacity and decency, have brought us to where we are today. In doing so they have ensured that in the future no other families will have to suffer distress due to unacceptable practices at our crematoria.”
You can also see the possible designs in our separate article here.
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