Barred: Brady’s last wish for satanic orgy music at funeral
MOORS murderer Ian Brady’s dying request for a satanic orgythemed symphony to be played at his funeral has been blocked by a judge.
And he also ruled the serial killer’s body must be secretly cremated and the ashes disposed of by a local authority within days.
Since the serial child-killer’s death aged 79 in May, a legal row has surrounded his funeral arrangements and where his ashes should be scattered.
At his inquest, the coroner expressed concern Brady’s ashes might be scattered on Saddleworth Moor near Oldham – where buried four of his five victims.
Yesterday at the High Court it emerged that Brady had asked for the fifth movement of the Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz to be played at his funeral.
In his programme notes Berlioz said the movement was envisaged as a “witches’ sabbath, where hideous monsters gathered to laugh at a funeral” of a tortured artist. Terry West, 66, the brother of 10-year-old victim Lesley Ann Downey, said Brady’s will was the he “final act of a twisted, evil man”. And yesterday High Court Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos dismissed Brady’s request, saying it would have caused “legitimate offence”.
In court, Sir Geoffrey was asked by two local authorities to decide on the disposal of Brady’s remains.
Oldham Council and Tameside Council said five months after Brady’s death his executor – solicitor Robin Makin – had still failed to arrange his funeral.
Mr Makin refuses to reveal the killer’s exact funeral wishes, saying they will emerge in “due course”.
Echoing their worries, Sir Geoffrey said Mr Makin could not be entrusted with the ashes. He ruled: “I am satisfied it is necessary for the matter to be taken out of Mr Makin’s hands if the body is to be disposed of quickly, lawfully and decently. Mr Makin has not been justified in being so secretive.”
He said the funeral must be within days, without any “music or ceremony” and cannot be reported on or have its location revealed.
Tameside Council agreed to dispose of the body “expediently”.
Brady and Myra Hindley, who died in prison in 2002, tortured and killed five children in the 1960s.