Soham murderer Ian Huntley cremated in £265 eco-coffin paid for by taxpayer

Ian Huntley was cremated in a funeral which cost the taxpayer almost £2,000.

The Soham murderer was placed in a £275 eco-friendly coffin for the ceremony, which was not attended by any mourners.

Some 64,000 people signed a petition urging the Ministry of Justice not to use taxpayer funds to pay for Huntley’s send-off.

But the MoJ has now disclosed a total of £1,915 on Huntley’s funeral, the Independent reported.

This included £625 paid for ‘professional services’, £275 to transfer Huntley’s body from hospital, the £585 unattended cremation fee, £100 for staff attendance at the ceremony and £65 for a cremation casket on top of the ‘jute natural’ coffin.

Huntley, 52, murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002 while the two friends while they were walking to buy sweets, before dumping their bodies in a ditch.

He pleaded not guilty to murdering the pair but was convicted at the Old Bailey in 2003.

The ex-school caretaker was serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland when he sustained a fatal injury to his head and was transferred to Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he died.

Fellow prisoner Anthony Russell was charged with Huntley’s murder.

The MoJ offers up to £3,000 towards basic expenses for funerals.

While the taxpayer foots the bill for the service and coffin, public funds do not cover other extras such as wakes or headstones.

It is understood the environmentally friendly coffin was picked as it was the most economical option.

Huntley’s ashes to be given to his next of kin, his mother Lynda Richards.

The taxpayer has previously footed the bill for funerals of other high profile criminals including the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and Raymond Morris, who was convicted for the Cannock Chase child murders.

Metro has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.

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