Tivoli Enquiry: Almost 25 decomposed bodies delivered to Madden's Funeral Parlour

The operator of Madden's Funeral Parlour has revealed that "almost all" of the 25 bodies taken to his business place by police and soldiers one day after the start of the May 2010 operations in Tivoli Gardens had decomposed.

Ferdinand Madden testified before the west Kingston of enquiry this morning that some were in an advanced state of decomposition.

Responding to a question from chairman of the commission, Sir David Simmons, Madden said typically decomposition begins 24 hours after death.

According to his testimony, the 25 bodies brought to Madden's Funeral Home on May 25, 2010 were among a total of 45 bodies collected by his establishment that day.

He said ten were picked up by his staff in the Darling Street area and taken to Taylor's Funeral Home because of roadblocks mounted throughout the west Kingston area at the time.

The others were dropped off throughout the day by the police.

Madden said by the following day distraught residents began converging on his business place to enquire about the bodies of relatives.

He said he took on the role of counsellor and tried to help them remain calm while explaining that he could not release the bodies until the police gave permission.