Baby funerals ‘trauma’
At Prime Minister’s Questions on 12 September, Bolton West MP Chris Green asked the Prime Minister to launch a public inquiry, after it emerged that three funerals had to be held for a baby when police failed to return all of her body parts.
Leah Aldridge was killed by her father in 2002, and buried by her mother that same year. However, in early 2017, Greater Manchester Police informed Ms Aldridge that her daughter’s liver had been found during an audit of human tissue. The remains were returned to the family, and Ms Aldridge arranged a second funeral for Leah, having been assured that all organs were accounted for.
However, on Wednesday 12 September, Mr Green told parliament of the family’s devastation at having to hold a third ceremony for their daughter, after Greater Manchester Police revealed, earlier this month, that further body parts had been found in storage.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Green said: “Only a few weeks ago yet more body parts were discovered by the police and the family had to go through the ordeal of a third funeral. Would the Prime Minister hold an inquiry into this matter for the sake of Leah’s family and for other families across Greater Manchester?”
The MP told his parliamentary colleagues that Ms Aldridge, who was 16 at the time of Leah’s death in 2002, had lost confidence in Greater Manchester Police and, ultimately, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who holds responsibility for policing.
Responding, the Prime Minster expressed sympathies to Leah’s family for their ‘prolonged trauma’ and pledged that Home Office officials would meet Greater Manchester police and the National Police Chiefs Council to support the family in getting the answers they need.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This is being treated with the upmost seriousness and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s firm focus continues to be supporting the family until they get the answers they need.”
Tags: burial, Government, infant, Manchester