Body parts destroyed without 'consent' of families

David Ford said some body parts were disposed of "without the consent or knowledge" of their families

Some body parts which had been retained by police in Northern Ireland were disposed of "without the consent or knowledge" of their families, according to the justice minister.

David Ford was addressing the assembly on Monday, after the PSNI confirmed that it had contacted the families of all but two of the people whose body parts were retained.

Chief Constable Matt Baggot said the PSNI kept 71 tissue samples relating to 63 individuals.

It emerged last week that the body parts had been retained in cases of suspicious and unexplained deaths. Twenty-three of those related to the Troubles.

The Commission for Victims and Survivors has set up a helpline. It is 028 9027 9100.

A national audit of body parts retained by police services across the UK has now been published.

Mr Ford said: "The state pathologist has clarified to me that there were, in the past, occasions when human tissue was taken without the families' knowledge and subsequently disposed of without family consent or knowledge.

"To many that may seem a shocking statement."

He said it was "clearly a matter of significant sensitivities for a number of different families".

Chairman of the Justice Committee Paul Givan called for an independent inquiry.

Earlier, during a press conference, Mr Baggott apologised to the families saying that with the benefit of hindsight, the whole issue could have been handled better.

It is believed that one of the two families the police have not been able to trace is that of a foreign national. It is understood that the two cases in question date back to 1966 and 1972.

Chair of the Victims Commission Brendan McAllister said they would meet the justice minister in two weeks' time to consider "unanswered questions" raised by victims and survivors.

"I am satisfied that the PSNI has taken great care to resolve this situation" Mr McAllister said.

However, he went on to criticise those responsible for leaking the story before police had a chance to talk to relatives.

'Motivated by desire'

Further details about the body parts were revealed at a news conference on Monday

Mr McAllister said that since most of the 4,000 people who were murdered since 1960 died as a result of the Troubles, it was "reasonable to assume" that body parts had been retained for a time by state agencies without families ever being informed.

However, Mr McAllister said it was important to remember that those responsible were "motivated by a desire" to establish the cause of death or to provide forensic evidence which might help secure justice.

Last week, Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton apologised for the distress caused to families but said the PSNI had acted within the law.

The PSNI said the body parts were retained as part of investigations between 1960 and 2005 and could include skulls and organs.

ACC Hamilton said until 2006 police were under no legal obligation to inform relatives.