Shock over reports of late night parties at cemetery

Reports of raucous late night parties by drunken youths in a Tralee cemetery have led to shock and revulsion in the Kerry county town.

The town council has also moved to keep vehicles out of Rath cemetery after dark, by deciding to lock the gates after 4.30pm.

The issue has been raised by local councillor Sam Locke who hit out at anti-social behaviour which, he said, had gone completely out of hand.

Some people were driving in vehicles with TVs and sound systems for parties and had even been dancing on graves, he claimed.

“People trying to visit graves are in fear of going into the graveyard,” Mr Locke said.

He claimed parties involving groups of young people could continue until 4am.

Cllr Norma Foley stated: “It’s an atrocious indictment of society when people can’t freely access a graveyard due to anti-social behaviour.”

While vehicles will be locked out after 4.30pm, the council has stressed there will be pedestrian access to the cemetery at all times.

The council will contact gardaí to ask them to keep an eye on the cemetery.