Care Worker Suspended For Coffin Photo

A Care worker has been suspended from a sheltered housing complex in Aberdeen following allegations she used a mobile phone to take a photograph of a dead elderly woman lying in an open coffin.

The woman has been relieved of her duties at Kingswood Court in Mastrick while an investigation into the incident, which is said to have happened at a funeral parlour last week, is carried out.

A source close to the council-run sheltered housing complex on Invercauld Road, where the decreased pensioner lived, said staff were “stunned” by the woman’s peculiar behaviour.

“The picture was taken while the coffin was lying in a chapel of rest last week and staff are all scratching their heads because they can’t understand why someone would want to take a photograph of a dead woman in a coffin.

“They don’t think there is anything sinister behind it but they can’t work out what she was thinking.

“Clearly they are worried that the woman has difficulties herself.”

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council confirmed last night that the care worker was suspended on full pay yesterday as a precautionary measure.

“A female member of staff at Kingswood Court was suspended today in connection with an incident while it is investigated,” the spokesman said.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

He added that the police had not been informed because the council was in the very early stages of the investigation.