Comedian loses funeral dispute
A COMEDIAN has lost a High Court battle with her ex-partner over the final resting place of their daughter.
Ava Vidal, a former panellist on TV show Mock the Week, was involved in a legal dispute with Edgar Harrison over the funeral arrangements for their daughter Shaquelle Vidal, who took her own life at the age of 23.
Ms Vidal (42) wanted to spread at least some of her daughter’s ashes, to pay for her funeral and limit attendance at the cremation to only blood relatives.
In a ruling held yesterday, Judge Milwyn Jarman instead ordered Shaquelle’s ashes be scattered in a garden of remem- brance at the London church where her funeral will be held.
The judge, who described the case as “sad”, also said Ms Vidal and Mr Harrison should pay an equal share of the funeral expenses and Shaquelle’s friends and family should be allowed to attend the cremation.
He said: “In my judgment the most important factor... is that the deceased be laid to rest with dignity and without any further delay.”
The judge added: “Finally, I express the hope that these directions will be put into effect promptly with dignity and respect by all concerned so that the deceased may finally be at peace as she certainly deserves to be.”
Shaquelle was found dead at a mental health clinic in London in April. Ava Vidal leaves the High Court in London yesterday
Mr Harrison’s lawyers had argued Ms Vidal should not contribute towards the funeral because, they claimed, her daughter did not want to have any contact with her.
The court heard that Shaquelle was brought up by her mother but went to live with family in Barbados as a teenager after struggling with mental health issues.
When she returned to the UK, aged 18, she is said to have severed ties with her mother and had “minimal” contact with her for the rest of her life.
The judge said that, in reaching his decision, he had to focus on Shaquelle’s wishes, the “reasonable wishes” of her family and friends and that her body “be disposed of with all proper respect and decency”.