Visitor ban over ‘unsafe’ cemetery

RELATIVES are being prevented from visiting the graves of loved ones at a Co Limerick cemetery due to fears they may end up joining the dead.

The gates at the cemetery in Croagh are locked because Limerick County Council says it is unsafe.

Storm damage to an old abbey in the cemetery has made it dangerous and there are fears the stone structure could collapse on passersby, causing death of injury.

Councillor Jerome Scanlan, who has relatives buried at Croagh, said when he recently tried to get access he was told he would have to travel to get a key.

He said: “The cemetery at Croagh has not been accessible for months. I know of people who came over from Britain to visit a grave there and it took three or four days before they eventually got access to it.”

The council says there are health and safety issues that necessitate keeping the gate to the cemetery locked.

Mr Scanlan said that immediate remedial work should be carried out on the ruin in the cemetery so that people can go there at any time to visit graves.

The matter came to light when Limerick County Council yesterday discussed new bylaws for cemeteries.

These set out a list of rules which include a maximum height of monuments set at 1.2 metres.

Another bylaw prohibits the scattering of ashes and the writing of words or symbols on a monument that would give rise to public offence.

A district court fine of up to €1,900 can be imposed for any breach of the bylaws.