MOORS murderer Ian Brady’s ashes will not be scattered in his native Glasgow, according to the city council.
The 79-year-old child killer died on Monday after spending more than 50 years in prison for murders committed with his partner Myra Hindley.
His body was released to his lawyer Robin Makin on Thursday and it had been reported that he wanted to be cremated, with his remains scattered in the city where he grew up.
However, Glasgow City Council has said it would refuse any request for the notorious murderer to be cremated in the area.
“We have not had such a request but we would refuse that request,” said a council spokesman. “We would advise the private crematoria not to accept the request or any such request should it be forthcoming. There has not been any request made.”
Brady’s body had been held under police guard since his death at Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Maghull, Merseyside on Monday evening.
Opening an inquest into his death on Tuesday, Christopher Sumner, senior coroner for Sefton, delayed the release of his body to ask for assurances that a funeral director and crematorium willing to take it had been found. He also asked for an assurance that Brady’s ashes would not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor, where the remains of four of his and Hindley’s five child victims were found.
Makin — Brady’s solicitor and executor of his will — told a reconvened hearing there was “no likelihood” the ashes would be scattered there. Sumner delayed the body’s release until Thursday to allow police to negotiate with Makin about arrangements for the funeral — a funeral director has now been found.
Brady and Hindley, who died in 2002, were jailed for life for the killings of John Kilbride, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10 and 17-year-old Edward Evans. They went on to admit the murders of Pauline Reade, 16, and 12-year-old Keith Bennett, whose body has never been found.
In theory, there would be little to stop Brady’s ashes being scattered in an open area of Glasgow, or anywhere else in Scotland, aside from public outrage. Although the majority of cremated remains are scattered in gardens of remembrance, a large number are dispersed in the great outdoors, often at a favourite beauty spot.
Although there are no strict regulations, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and Welsh and English environmental agencies advise people use common sense — avoiding windy days, or popular summits where phosphate enrichment caused by cremated ash has affected local eco-systems.
Makin was not available to provide a comment yesterday.
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