Bereaved parents fighting for a public inquiry into the recent baby ashes scandal are to take pictures of their deceased children to the Scottish Parliament in a bid to provoke Ministers into taking action.
Parents from the Glasgow Answers for Ashes Parents (GAAP) campaign group have asked MSPs to attend a meeting in the Scottish Parliament being hosted by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont MSP. Parents from across central Scotland as well as representatives from Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee will speak directly to elected members to make their case for a full public inquiry to investigate the disposal of babies’ ashes from crematoria in Scotland.
Chair of GAAP, Linsay Bonar said: “Today’s meeting is as much about fighting to get answers regarding the disposal of our babies ashes as it is to remind Ministers and politicians that at the heart of our campaign are our precious babies, many of whom seem to have been forgotten about over recent weeks. 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 and why we were denied this basic information at the time. Surely this is not too much to ask?”
Labour leader and Glasgow Pollok member Johann Lamont MSP added: “This meeting will provide an opportunity for grieving parents to explain to MSPs why they believe a public inquiry is so important and I hope that it can play a part in the parents securing the action that they demand”.
Thompsons Solicitors has been appointed by a number of parents involved in the scandal, Partner Patrick McGuire said: “The situation surrounding the baby ashes scandal is nothing short of ludicrous. For parents who have already suffered the unimaginable pain of losing a baby to feel they have no choice but to relive this pain by showing pictures of their deceased babies to politicians in order to provoke a response is something which should come as a huge embarrassment to Ministers.
“We are talking about straightforward information which could be established fairly quickly through the means of a public inquiry yet the Scottish Government which has the power to sanction such an inquiry is refusing to cooperate.”
ENDS
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