A FUNERAL firm was accused today of failing to learn the lessons from York’s baby coffin scandal after becoming embroiled in a cemetery mix-up in which the wrong man was buried.

In York, the coffin of baby Benjamin Judson, of Holgate, was buried without a body in it.

In a bid to cover up the error, staff hid Benjamin’s body in the coffin of 85-year-old Evelyn Sayner, of Heworth, and both were subsequently cremated.

In 2007, two undertakers – Mark Eshelby and Graeme Skidmore – were given 18-month prison sentences, suspended for two years and ordered to pay £5,000 each over the incident, although the sentences were later reduced on appeal.

In the latest incident, on Merseyside, a graveside service went ahead, despite the vicar raising concerns that the wrong coffin was about to be buried.

The Rev Andrew Mannings spotted that the coffin was Roman Catholic and the name and date of birth on the coffin plate were also incorrect.

But he was reassured it was the correct body and the burial continued.

The body was later illegally exhumed and returned to the funeral home, while the correct body was taken to the graveyard and buried, after the family had left.

Co-operative Funeralcare has apologised to both families for the “unfortunate error” and said it was carrying out an extensive investigation as to how it had occurred.

The York case involved Yorkshire Co-operative Funeral Services, which through a series of mergers, later became part of Co-operative Funeralcare. Trade union leader Brian Brock represented a former York Crematorium manager who blew the whistle about the York empty coffin scandal during a council investigation into unrelated allegations of malpractice. He spoke of his disbelief that another coffin mix-up had happened.

“I cannot believe it,” said Mr Brock, of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA).

“You would have thought that Co-operative Funeralcare would have learned lessons and put things in place to stop this happening.

“It’s heartbreaking. I’m disgusted that two other families are going to go through the same upset.”

Jonathan Mortimer, of Langleys, who represented Benjamin’s grieving parents, David and Paula Judson, and relatives of Evelyn Sayner, said that neither he nor they would be able to comment.


Linking two cases ‘absurd’ says Co-op

CO-OPERATIVE Funeralcare claimed today that to link the York and Merseyside incidents was “absurd.”

It said the York incident, which had happened over ten years ago, was handled by Yorkshire Co-operatives – at that time an independent Co-operative Society.

“In September 2002, Yorkshire Co-operatives merged with UnitedNorwest Co-operative Society to create United Co-operatives, which subsequently merged with The Co-operative Group in July 2007, which operates The Co-operative Funeralcare,” said a spokeswoman.

“The Co-operative Funeralcare was responsible for the regrettable error made in Wallasey last month. The families concerned were contacted at the earliest opportunity, given a full apology and explanation, and the matter was settled amicably. We deeply regret the upset and distress caused, but would stress that such incidents are extremely rare.”