Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to show the Taoiseach some pictures and I can send them to him. I have a picture here of a series of staples and nails and similarly in this photograph. This is meant to be a picture of the cremated remains of an individual, a guy called Johnny Fox. There are quite a number of staples, nails and screws in his cremated remains. Johnny Fox was the first coach of Rhasidat Adeleke, was the founder of Darkness into Light and he died in April. When his family opened his urn to spread the ashes, they discovered this series of staples and nails in his remains. It was obviously extremely upsetting. I was in touch with his son, Seán, who has said that he cannot grieve because of his trying to get to the bottom of how this could have happened and of how disrespectful it was to their father.

Thus far, the only response they have received from the Dublin Cemeteries Trust is an instruction to waive the cremation costs for the family, which really is not good enough. The family want to get to the bottom of how this could have possibly happened and to ensure that it is not happening to any other family. There does not appear to be any independent regulator to ensure that cremations are being carried out properly and that external items are not remaining in people's urns. The family is also hoping to have a meeting with the Taoiseach, if possible.

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