Edinburgh man loses legal battle over remains of mummified parents

A man who stored the mummified remains of his parents in a basement has lost a legal battle over their burial.

Hilda and Eugenois Marcel died in 1987 and 1994 respectively, but their bodies were kept in an Edinburgh property owned by their son Melvyn until 2002 - when they were discovered by police investigating another matter.

Following their discovery, the embalmed bodies were moved to the city mortuary, where they have been kept for almost 15 years.

During discussions with Edinburgh City Council, Mr Marcel said he planned to build a refrigerated unit in his home to store the bodies in, until he was able to construct a mausoleum in the grounds of his property.

It is understood he then intended to have his parents' remains transferred to the West Bank in the Middle East for burial.

Now, a judge has ruled that the council can bury the bodies.

Lord Mulholland said Mr Marcel's suggestions "did not seem to me to be realistic or anything more than a vague statement of intent".

In his written judgment, he said Mr Marcel "has had ample opportunity to make arrangements to dispose of his parents' bodies in accordance with his and his family's wishes".

The judge added: "It should be noted that the bodies of the defender's parents have been in the city mortuary for many years, no doubt at some cost to the City of Edinburgh at a time when the public purse is under significant constraint."

Prosecutors were informed after the discoveries of the remains in 2002, but no proceedings were brought and the procurator fiscal said the bodies could be released for burial or cremation.

The council and Mr Marcel had been having discussions about the burial of the couple since 2012, with the authority eventually applying for permission to bury them after he failed to make any arrangements.

In a statement, the council said it would "take the necessary and appropriate steps to bury the bodies".