The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hundreds turn out for funeral of baby boy
Unidentified infant laid to rest close to where he was found in 2013
Hundreds of mourners have turned out to pay their respects to a “precious” baby boy they never knew and whose name remains unknown.
The remains of the child, who would have been almost two yesterday, were found wrapped in a blanket on an old railway path in the Seafield area of Edinburgh in July 2013.
Despite a major investigation and extensive efforts to find the boy’s mother and wider family, they have never been traced and his identity is still a mystery.
The youngster was finally laid to rest following a funeral service in the sunshine at the city’s Seafield Cemetery, close to the area where he was found.
More than 200 mourners gathered to say goodbye to the “wee one”, who may have been up to six weeks old when he died.
Leading the service, the Rev Erica Wishart, of Tranent Parish Church, told mourners: “This is the kind of tragedy that surely touches everyone who hears about it. All of us who gather here today are grieving.
“We represent everyone in this community and beyond who feels deep sadness that this tiny baby is never going to have the chance to grow up and live his life.”
The minister said those gathered may feel “anger and shock” at what had happened, or perhaps a whole range of emotions.
“We are here to say goodbye to this wee one, with the dignity and respect he deserves. We are here to mourn the life that could have been and we are here to affirm that every life is precious in God’s eyes,” she said.
A number of mourners were visibly tearful as the boy’s tiny white coffin was lowered into the ground and as a lone piper played.
The funeral was arranged by Police Scotland and a number of community volunteers offered their services.
Cameron McKay, 21, of Cousland, Midlothian, volunteered to play the pipes at the funeral.
“It was quite emotional, really sad actually,” he said. “Although it was a great turnout, it was quite sad to see all the people.”
Margaret Halliday, who works with the support group Angel Wings, which makes burial clothes for babies, was also among the mourners.
She said: “The poor wee boy. I don’t know what his mum must be going through today – it must be horrendous.
“No matter what the circumstances, I just feel for his mum as well.”
Afterwards police handed out leaflets saying their investigation is continuing and they are “still looking for the vital piece of information which would help identify the child and his mother”.