MP calls for resting place for unidentified ashes

Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is at the centre of a major police investigation

An MP has backed calls for a single resting place for unidentified ashes in the wake of a major investigation into a Hull funeral directors.

Police removed 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in March.

Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy promised “full support” to create a “special place” for the ashes.

Hull City Council told the BBC it would speak with those affected “to agree how we can lay to rest unidentified ashes”.

Humberside Police previously told a press conference it was not possible to identify any of the cremated ashes.

Families told the BBC they had kept urns containing ashes they now know are not those of their relatives.

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Ms Hardy said she would lend her “full support” to creating a resting place where people could take unidentified ashes.

She added: “When I attended a vigil the other week, I was talking to people affected and this idea came directly from them.

“They were talking about having somewhere where they could put them [the ashes] into some sort of special place that could be visited.”

In a statement, Hull City Council said: “It is the intention to liaise with the families affected and the local community to agree how we lay to rest unidentified ashes.

“Given the on-going criminal investigation, with the police only confirming last week that individual ashes cannot be identified through DNA, and the fact many families are still being supported through this extremely difficult verification and identification process, these discussions are planned to take place in the coming weeks.”

Two people, a 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, arrested in connection with the investigation remain on police bail.

Victim Support has set up a helpline – 0808 281 1136 – for anyone affected by the investigation.

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