A funeral directors in Glasgow is under investigation in relation to missing ashes and financial misconduct and has been subsequently expelled by the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD). A Milne Funerals Ltd, which has been investigated last month by Glasgow City Council after police found 19 containers of ashes. The council has contacted 14 families from the Dumbarton and Glasgow areas and it is believed that five of the urns remain unidentified. Also, the firm is under investigation over allegations of financial misconduct. In March, the firm’s Springburn branch was still operating, having closed the Dumbarton office last year, which also remains under investigation.
On Wednesday, the NAFD took the decision to permanently ban the firm from its membership list with immediate effect. All NAFD logos have to be removed from all associated funeral home services, so as to avoid confusion to bereaved families. All directors of the company associated with this series of allegations will be excluded from NAFD membership in respect of any alternative funeral businesses of which they are a director, whether now or in the future.
A spokesperson said that the series of allegations received related to a pattern of behaviour not compatible with the Independent Funeral Standards Organisation (IFSO) Funeral Director Code. Consequently, the company can no longer offer families access to the association’s independent complaints as well as the redress service. Representatives of A Milne chose not to attend the hearing.
Police Scotland has concluded the investigation and operation in premises of A Milne Funerals Ltd, however, the investigation, called ‘Operation Koine’ continues. Detective Inspector Gerry Shovlin said that it’s a very emotional case and he recognizes the level of distress and upset that families had to experience. The investigation has been going on for several weeks and is expected to continue for some time due to the level of inquiry that needs to be done. Shovlin added that it is a complex inquiry involving a number of agencies
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