Grieving family want to know what killed Mark
Cause of death still unknown seven months after probe
sitting in a university pathology lab piled up with others awaiting examination.
Some deaths investigated by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service require toxicology analysis before a final post- mortem report can be completed.
Delay in toxicology only rarely affects release of the deceased for burial or cremation as initial death certificates are issued to allow families to make funeral arrangements.
Mark’s death certificate does not have a cause of death, saying it was “unknown.”
Roofer Kieran, who lives in Troon, said: “We couldn’t actually believe dad was buried in the wrong grave and the only reason we noticed was because the family have three lairs side by side at the cemetery.
“He was laid to rest and then we had to rebury him, now we still don’t know how he died.
“The family just needs some closure without being fobbed off, it was such a sudden death of a 48- year- old and we are nowhere forward since last July.
“Every six weeks we keep on getting a letter saying it will be another six weeks.”
For Mark’s family the delay is unbearable, and they gathered at his graveside at Monkton and Prestwick New Cemetery to emphasis the need for resolution.
He was found dead in his flat on July 16 and his cousin Patricia Morgan, 48, said: “It is nearly seven months since Mark’s death, as if there wasn’t enough distress with him being buried in the wrong grave.
“Everybody is still on a knifeedge waiting to hear what is going on.
“I have been phoning the procurator fiscal and the labs at Crosshouse Hospital and getting nowhere.
“They are not even giving us a timescale and this is so disrespectful to the living as well as Mark.
“Mark had such a hard life himself, he does not deserve this.”
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “We appreciate the impact of the delays in toxicology analysis and have apologised to the families affected and kept them informed of timescales.
“The Crown relies upon contracts with external experts for laboratory work and is finalising arrangements to reduce this backlog as quickly as possible.”