Limerick County Council Vows To Enforce Burial Ground Policy

The move follows the forced removal by the local authority of a headstone at a cemetery in West Limerick.

The permanent structure at Relig Mhuire Burial Ground in Askeaton was found to be in breach of guidelines, as set out under the Council’s ‘Burial Ground Policy’.

According to Mr. Michael Griffin, Administrative Officer, Limerick County Council, "Permission was given to a local resident to erect a headstone at the cemetery in July 2007. It subsequently came to our attention that a cross was added to the headstone, bringing the overall height of the structure above the permissible height of 4ft. 6 inches. The Council removed the cross after numerous meetings and written submissions to the resident asking them to remove it proved unsuccessful."

He explained, "The Council carried out an inspection of the cross prior to its removal. The instability of the structure meant that it was a threat to public safety. The Council is satisfied that the Monumental Sculptor did not erect the cross. The Council does not know who erected the cross or if they had the required insurances."

Limerick County Council’s ‘Burial Ground Policy’ states that no tomb, monument, vault, headstone, tablet or permanent structure of any description or material shall be erected or constructed on any place of burial in the cemetery, unless and until the structure has been approved of, in writing, in the form of a Certificate of Permission by the Council’s Engineer, or such other Officer as the Council shall appoint for this purpose.

The Policy adds that a descriptive statement of what is proposed, together with a dimensioned drawing to a scale of not less than 1 is to 20 must accompany all such requests for approval. The heights of any structure proposed must not exceed 1.2 metres above beam level.

Mr. Griffin continued, "Limerick County Council will continue to investigate breaches of these regulations by conducting examinations of all newly erected permanent structures in burial grounds across County Limerick. Such inspections will be carried out in the interests of public safety and in accordance with guidelines set out under the ‘Burial Ground Policy’."

-ENDS-

NOTE TO EDITOR:
For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900