Final chapter of tragic life

IN beautiful autumn sunshine the final chapter in Pauline Reade’s tragic story was completed.

Specialist workmen had gently exhumed three bodies from her family’s plot at Gorton Cemetery, screened off by two black tents.

When they reached the remains of Pauline, her niece stepped forward.

Jackie Reade, 45, passed a red velvet bag to funeral director, Adam Braithwaite.

It contained Pauline’s jaw bone and hair samples, which had been secretly kept for 30 years in a laboratory at Leeds University on behalf of Greater Manchester Police. They were discovered last year.

Also in the bag was a pendant and items of Pauline’s clothing – only returned to her family this summer after also being found in police storage.

The bag was placed in Pauline’s casket and finally her family had laid her to rest.

After the plot was refilled Jackie and her sister, Lynn, placed roses on the turned soil.

GMP paid for the cost of the exhumation and reburial of the bodies.

The force said last year they had become aware that human tissue belonging to Pauline had been stored in external premises on behalf of GMP. The samples, they said, were originally held for investigative purposes.

Martin Bottomley, head of GMP’s cold case unit, said: “This is a deeply sensitive matter and understandably it has caused some upset with the family.

“However, we felt contacting them was the right thing to do and we have given them a number of options, all of which GMP will pay for.”