Bereaved families blast 'missing ashes' after cops 'raid funeral home'

14 May 2024 , 10:22

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A number of forensic officers were seen at A. Milne Independent Funeral Director's branch in Springburn, Glasgow (Image: Daily Record/Media Scotland)

Police have launched a probe into a former funeral directors' company amid claims of missing ashes.

Forensics officers were seen going into a branch of A Milne Funeral Directors in Springburn, Glasgow, after several families reported allegations of ashes going missing, and financial misconduct. The firm also had a branch in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, which has since closed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "An investigation is ongoing into to the conduct of a former funeral company that had branches in Glasgow and Dumbarton with regard to the storage/return of cremated remains and allegations of financial misconduct. Inquiries are at an early stage."

At least five people have been spotted entering the funeral home wearing overalls as cops investigate alleged mismanagement (Daily Record/Media Scotland)

Some families have accused the business of mismanaging their loved ones’ remains, losing cremated ashes and ‘undignified’ treatment of the deceased.

Samantha Wotherspoon and partner Matthew Beck claim they asked Steven Milne of A. Milne Funeral Directors to arrange the cremation of her father in law Dennis Smillie at Cardross Crematorium in November 2021 and paid £3,100 to the company.

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Dennis Smillie's ashes have been missing for nearly three years (Glasgow Live)

But three years later the couple say they still have not received Dennis’ ashes. Samantha told Glasgow Live: "My partner is devastated, he was very close to his dad. To not have that closure and the opportunity to scatter his dad's ashes in a place that means something to him is hard."

In January this year, David Breslin died aged 76. His niece, Klair Sloss, was tasked with organising his funeral and said she paid £3,851 to the company. She said: "Five days before the funeral I got a phone call from the people who picked up the body to ask if we knew that the funeral had changed - we didn't.” Klair said the firm told them the crematorium had been "double booked" and the service moved elsewhere, meaning family were unable to attend, so they switched to a different funeral director.

David Breslin's niece claimed the firm said her uncle's funeral had been "double booked" (Glasgow Live)

Bernadette Weir claimed the firm treated her husband's body in an ‘undignified’ way after her husband Edward, 55, died suddenly at their home in Muirhead in March. She claimed Edward’s body was bundled into the back of a “messy” estate car, not a hearse, with a family friend required to help carry the deceased grandfather-of-three. She said: "I'm so angry. I can't sleep because I keep thinking about the way they treated my husband." She also claimed she demanded a refund but the firm only returned around half of what had been paid.

A post on Facebook announced the opening of the firm's Springburn branch in 2019, read: "At A Milne Funeral Directors, we are committed to providing a dignified service with courtesy and respect to your loved one. Our services are available at any time, day or night with experienced staff to help and assist you."

The firm described itself as "an independent, family owned and operated organisation", and a post by a customer described it as a "father and daughter business". The director, Steve Milne, was born in 1967 and took up the position in January 2023, the same month that ex-director Ashleigh Milne, born in 1987, ceased to be in the role, according to Companies House.

Edward Weir suddenly died at home, he was treated in an undignified way, his wife said (Glasgow Live)

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) confirmed it had been contacted by families. A spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that the NAFD has received a number of complaints about A Milne, which have been scrutinised by our committee for professional standards.

"The firm appears to have stopped corresponding with us, however, they have been formally notified that they will be considered by the NAFD disciplinary committee at a meeting in May, where the ultimate sanction we have at our disposal is removal from membership.

"Under the terms of reference of the committee, we do not publicly disclose the details of complaints made. "As a trade association, we have no statutory powers and regulate purely by consent, therefore expulsion from membership is the most severe penalty at our disposal."

The Mirror has approached A Milne Funeral Directors for comment.

Keiran Fleming