THE grieving partner of a York man who died in mysterious circumstances has abandoned hope of burying him with his family – because she cannot afford the bill.

Lisa Boden says father-of-six John Kelly will instead be cremated at York Crematorium at 11am on Tuesday.

She said she now planned to put a plaque near the graves of his mother, Betty, and brother, Alan, at Fulford Cemetery, so there would at least be somewhere for her and the children to go and remember him.

Lisa told The Press last month how she wanted him to be buried so there would be a grave to visit, but she might have to accept an offer by York Hospital of a “pauper’s funeral” burial, along with other patients who had died.

She said she was stuck in a Catch-22 situation, as she had been told a Government social fund might meet at least part of the £3,200 cost, but it would not pay out until after the service or at least until arrangements had been made.

However, funeral directors had told her that, under new rules, they needed a £1,500 deposit up front before they would go ahead with arranging the event.

Friends launched a collection fund to help to raise money.

She said today that York Hospital and the Social Fund would meet most of the lower costs of the cremation.

Mr Kelly, 46, died last month in a Bell Farm flat off Huntington Road, sparking a police investigation which led to three arrests in connection to an earlier assault at the property. Police stressed that none of the arrests were in connection with causing Mr Kelly’s death.

The men were released on bail, pending further inquiries, while a pathologist carried out examinations to determine the cause of death.

Residents living near the flat where Mr Kelly was found claimed there had been a “tragic accident” prior to his death, which had not had any connection with the death.