Farmers ‘should be allowed bury relatives at home’

A LOCAL authority is seeking ministerial approval to permit farmers to bury deceased relatives on their home soil.

Independent Clare councillor James Breen declared: “What can be more sacred to a farmer than a place where he reared his family or raised his cattle?”

The ex-TD told a meeting of Clare County Council: “A farmer or his family should have the option of being buried on their own land.”

His council colleagues agreed and unanimously decided to seek ministerial approval for the proposal.

And last night, Killaloe diocesan spokesman Fr Brendan Quinlivan said that the Church Code of Canon Law allows for families to have a special cemetery or tomb on lands other than a graveyard.

Citing the code, Fr Quinlivan said canon law states such family cemeteries require the permission of the local bishop.

However, at yesterday’s council meeting, Mr Breen said: “I don’t expect a flood of farmers to be interested in this, but people should be given the choice.

“The county’s cemeteries are full to capacity and the council knows that it is hard to get land for graveyards.”

Cllr Brian Meaney said he had concerns around the impact a burial could have on a local aquifer. He said: “This might also inhibit the future use of land if a person is buried in a particular spot. I believe though that this should be sent to the minister.”

Cllr Joe Arkins said he sympathised with Mr Breen’s attachment to the land. He said: “I think we might be picking a rod with which to beat ourselves and this could cause a lot of administrative problems.”

He added: “Say, for example, if the council wanted to carry out road improvements? Would it be stopped because of the burial of remains on the land or what if the land was put up for sale? Would the family be allowed to exhume the remains and bring the remains with them?

“Farmers can’t bury their own animals on land and neighbours might raise concerns over the pollution to a water source the remains of a person might cause.”

In response, Mr Breen said: “Animals are not buried in coffins.”

Cllr Arkins said: “I have reservations if we give the imprimatur of Clare County Council to the motion.”

Mr Arkins said he would prefer the motion not to go to a vote and let the Minister for Environment Phil Hogan decide.

The council is to write to Mr Hogan seeking his approval for families to bury their own on their lands.

Last night, Fr Quinlivan said: “A bishop would be very reluctant to bless lands for a cemetery for a family given the uncertainty over the long term future of such a sacred place.”