Identity of three urns remain a mystery year after seizure from Glasgow funeral home

Glasgow City Council has confirmed there are three urns in its care which haven’t been identified more than a year after they were seized from a funeral home.

The criminal probe into A Milne Independent Funeral Directors, named Operation Koine, began following allegations of ashes going missing, families being given the wrong remains, and fraudulent prepaid funeral plans being sold in May 2024.

The funeral firm operated in both Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, and the Springburn area of Glasgow.

Forensic teams searched the Balornock Road premises for 11 days after officers raided the business last spring.

At the time, Glasgow City Council confirmed that 19 urns were recovered during the police search days after eight urns were handed over to Argyll and Bute Council.

The funeral directors is accused of selling fraudulent plans. STV News

Glasgow City Council have been unable to identify the remains contained within three of the urns in their care. It is understood that the ashes will be scattered in a memorial garden if they go unclaimed.

The local authority in Argyll and Bute has one urn in its care, however, the remains have been identified and it is just waiting to be picked up.

Police Scotland has confirmed they have received more than 70 reports of mishandled remains and financial misconduct as part of the ongoing investigation.

A 55-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man were arrested in July 2024. Another woman, aged 37, was arrested a month later.