No music at Ian Brady cremation - despite child killer's last request

Ian Brady had requested the fifth movement of Hector Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique be played during the ceremony.

But the piece of music remained a contentious area between Brady’s solicitor Robin Makin and Oldham and Tameside councils.

Both authorities had objected to the music, feeling that no music “was preferable”.

And the Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Geoffrey Vos, ruled in October that Brady’s remains must be disposed of with “no music and no ceremony”.

In his ruling, he wrote “I decline to permit the playing of the fifth movement of the Symphony Fantastique at the cremation as Mr Makin requested.

“As the composer’s programme notes describe, the theme and subject of the piece means legitimate offence would be caused to the families of the deceased’s victims once it became known it had been played.

“It was not suggested by Mr Makin that the deceased had requested any other music to be played or any other ceremony to be performed, and in those circumstances, I propose to direct that there be no music and no ceremony.

“I have no difficulty in understanding how legitimate offence would be caused to the families of the deceased’s victims once it became known that this movement had been played at his cremation. I decline to permit it.”