Death knell for many funeral homes

THE recession has not just meant the death knell for the economy, it is now even threatening the funeral business.

The spokesman for the Irish Association of Funeral Directors, (IAFD), Gus Nichols, said that he expected as many as 20 firms to either close or be forced to merge with other companies in the next year.

The old adage has it that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, but according to Mr Nichols, who operates his own funeral directors business in Dublin, the recession has hit members in the pocket.