Category: burials and cremation

Coffin sliding – urban myths vs the law – Law & Religion UK

Posted April 26th, 2023 in burials and cremation, local government, news by sally

‘The procedure of “coffin sliding” is one of the devices employed in the funeral trade for moving coffins to adjacent plots to remedy errors and other changes following their initial interment. Whilst its use is only infrequently reported, to date it has featured in four consistory court determinations. The associated law is discussed below with reference to the most recent reference to “coffin sliding”, Re Chevington Cemetery [2023] ECC New 3.’

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Law & Religion UK, 25th April 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Sister of Christopher Alder on 25-year fight for answers – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2023 in burials and cremation, death in custody, human tissue, inquests, news, police, unlawful killing by sally

‘More than a decade after his death in police custody, the body of former paratrooper Christopher Alder was discovered lying in a mortuary. At the same time, in a grave bearing his name lay the body of a 77-year-old woman. No-one has ever been held responsible for either incident. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of his death, Mr Alder’s sister, Janet, spoke to the BBC about the psychological toll of her battle for truth and accountability.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Defining “family graves” – Re Blagdon revisited (I) – Law & Religion UK

Posted March 29th, 2023 in burials and cremation, Christianity, families, family courts, news by sally

‘In Re Blagdon Cemetery [2002] Fam 299, the Arches Court reviewed the circumstances under which burial in a “family grave” might be considered as an exception to the general presumption of permanence of Christian burial arising from the initial act of interment.’

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Law & Religion UK, 28th March 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Swansea: Family feud brawlers sentenced after cemetery fight Published 14 hours ago – BBC News

Posted February 21st, 2023 in burials and cremation, dangerous driving, guilty pleas, news, offensive weapons, sentencing, violent disorder, Wales by tracey

‘Seven men involved in a cemetery brawl that left two people seriously injured have been sentenced for their roles in a family feud during two funerals.’

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BBC News, 20th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Outdated laws on disposal of the deceased to be reviewed, including burials, cremation and other methods – Law Commission

Posted January 6th, 2023 in burials and cremation, Law Commission, news, statute law revision by tracey

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has begun a new project that will review the ancient laws that govern the process of dealing with the remains of the deceased – bringing them into line with modern needs.’

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Law Commission, 22nd December 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Law & religion in the consistory courts 2022 – Law & Religion UK

Posted January 5th, 2023 in burials and cremation, Church of England, ecclesiastical law, faculties, news by sally

‘The post Law & religion in the UK courts 2022 highlights some of the most significant UK religion cases in the secular courts over the past year. Decisions of the consistory courts of the Church of England have been reported on a monthly basis and these ~150 cases were summarized in our annual review. In this post, we summarize nine cases which demonstrate different aspects of ecclesiastical law which have been of interest during the year. These include: “contested heritage“; the practical aspects of the Church’s “net zero“ commitment; a variant on the “seats vs pews” debate; a hark back to the Pre-Raphaelites; the Burial Act 1855; and cautionary tales from the courts.’

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Law & Religion UK, 4th January 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

David Torrance: A Tale of Two Accessions: 1952 and 2022 – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted September 29th, 2022 in burials and cremation, Crown, news, Privy Council, royal family, succession by sally

‘No two Accessions are the same. That of King Edward VII in 1901 was characterised by widespread confusion regarding custom and practice, for Queen Victoria’s succession to the Throne had long ago faded from the public consciousness. This time, the “official mind” was better prepared and the major difference between the Accession of King Charles III in 2022 and that of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in February 1952 was its visibility. By comparing the ceremonial surrounding these Accessions (and some others), this article reveals developments in what Walter Bagehot called the “dignified” constitution over the past seven decades.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th September 2022

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Eco-friendly coffin claims banned by advertising watchdog – BBC News

Posted August 3rd, 2022 in advertising, burials and cremation, environmental protection, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Two funeral providers have been banned from repeating claims about eco-friendly funeral packages by the UK’s advertising watchdog.’

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BBC News, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Widow ‘mourned at wrong grave for 27 years after husband’s ashes secretly given to his mother’ – The Independent

Posted March 10th, 2022 in burials and cremation, news, personal injuries, psychiatric damage, widows by tracey

‘Kathleen Walsham is suing funeral giant Dignity for psychological personal injury after she claims she was told in 2016 that her husband’s remains had been buried 10 miles away in Essex.’

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The Independent, 9th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Carole Packman murder: Russell Causley returned to prison – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2021 in burials and cremation, domestic violence, murder, news, parole, release on licence, sentencing by tracey

‘A murderer who refuses to reveal the whereabouts of his wife’s body has been returned to jail after breaching his parole licence conditions.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Burials, groundwater activities and related surface water discharge activities – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 25th, 2021 in burials and cremation, consultations, environmental health, government departments, news, pollution, water by sally

‘On 29 September, Defra announced a consultation on proposed amendments to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 as they apply to groundwater activities and some related surface water discharges.’

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Law & Religion UK, 24th November 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Family spared trial over mummified remains of woman found on mattress – The Guardian

Posted November 10th, 2021 in bereavement, burials and cremation, Crown Prosecution Service, families, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘The brother, sister and mother of a woman whose mummified remains were found on a mattress will not face trial, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Consultation for vaccine passports – England – Law & Religion UK

Posted September 29th, 2021 in burials and cremation, consultations, coronavirus, government departments, marriage, news, vaccination by sally

‘Late on 27 September 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care issued the Consultation Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario: call for evidence, asking for responses by 11 October, although it encourages stakeholders to submit views as quickly as possible in case there is need to introduce certification, as part of Plan B, at short notice.’

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Law & Religion UK, 28th September 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Competition watchdog to probe Central England Co-op funeral deal – The Independent

Posted August 16th, 2021 in bereavement, burials and cremation, competition, consumer protection, inquiries, news, reports by tracey

‘The UK competition regulator is to investigate the takeover of funeral homes by the Central England Co-op amid increased scrutiny of the industry.’

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The Independent, 16th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A woman has been jailed after vandalising the grave of a young diabetic man with the words: “Ha Ha Ha Liam. Looks like diabetes won again.”

Posted May 14th, 2021 in burials and cremation, compensation, criminal damage, families, imprisonment, malicious communications, news, restraining orders, sentencing by tracey

‘A woman has been jailed after vandalising the grave of a young diabetic man with the words: “Ha Ha Ha Liam. Looks like diabetes won again.” ‘

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The Independent, 13th May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

“Contested heritage” and offensive inscriptions: Re St Margaret Rottingdean – Law & Religion UK

Posted February 5th, 2021 in burials and cremation, demonstrations, ecclesiastical law, news, racism by sally

‘On 17 June 2020, we posted Of graves, headstones and “offensive” inscriptions: Re St Margaret’s Rottingdean in which we examined the judgment and directions in Re St Margaret Rottingdean [2020] ECC Chi 4, handed down on 15 June 2020, in the context of the developments following the public protests associated with the Black Lives Matter campaign which came to a head in the UK over the weekend of 6/7 June 2020 with the toppling of the statue of slave-trader Edward Colston and its deposit in the harbour in Bristol.’

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Law & Religion UK, 4th February 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Disputed burial and the Senior Courts Act 1981: Ganoun – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 2nd, 2020 in bereavement, burials and cremation, families, immigration, injunctions, news, visas by tracey

‘The issue in Ganoun v Joshi & Anor [2020] EWHC 2743 (Ch) was the disposal of the remains of a man who died in September 2020 as a result of a road traffic accident leaving a widow, Ms Joshi [1 & 3].’

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Law & Religion UK, 30th October 2020

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Helen McCourt’s mother ordered to pay killer £40,000 legal fees – BBC News

Posted September 8th, 2020 in bereavement, bills, burials and cremation, costs, murder, news, parole by sally

‘A murdered woman’s mother has been told to pay her daughter’s killer £40,000 in legal fees.’

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BBC News, 7th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christopher Alder: Legal action sought over body mix-up – BBC News

Posted August 26th, 2020 in bereavement, burials and cremation, death in custody, disclosure, documents, families, inquests, inquiries, news, police by sally

‘The sister of a man found in a mortuary 11 years after he was believed to have been buried is planning to take legal action against South Yorkshire Police.’

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BBC News, 25th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Funeral directors overcharging bereaved by at least £400, watchdog says – The Guardian

Posted August 14th, 2020 in bereavement, burials and cremation, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘UK consumers are typically being overcharged by at least £400 – and possibly a lot more – when they pay for a funeral, according to Britain’s competition watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com