Council in Kerry reviewing procedures after woman buried in wrong plot

Updated 4:51pm: An error by Kerry County Council led to a woman being buried in the wrong plot alongside another woman who died early last year, it has emerged.

Two families and the community in an around Listowel and north Kerry have been impacted by the error in Listowel’s main cemetery.

Reacting today Kerry County Council said it could confirm that contact was made and maintained with both of the families affected.

They went on: "Formal apologies have issued to both families involved, having due regard to the sensitivities involved.

"The council is reviewing existing procedures in this matter.

A person close to both families and familiar with the mix-up said the families have been left deeply hurt by the way the matter was dealt with by the county council.

“The whole thing has added to the families’ grief,” they said.

Radio Kerry earlier reported that Kerry County Council had carried out an exhumation and reburial of remains at St John Paul II cemetery in Listowel.

The cemetery in Listowel was closed to the public on Friday morning while the exhumation and reburial took place.

Officials from the council as well as environmental health officers from the HSE were present as required by legislation.

The legislation governing exhumations in Ireland set out in Section 46 of the Local Government Sanitary Services Act 1948 and the Second Schedule of the Local Government Act, 1994.

Grave plots are sold only when a death has taken place and it is understood that last March three plots were bought by a family on the death of a woman in her sixties.

However over a fortnight ago when the husband of the deceased woman arrived to visit the grave of his loved one, a woman who was originally from Listowel but who has been living elsewhere in north Kerry had been buried in the plot adjoining his wife.

It is understood the same plot was sold twice by the council in error .

The January burial has now been exhumed and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

Body exhumed and reburied in Kerry after deceased buried in wrong grave - reports

A body has been exhumed and reburied at a cemetery in Co. Kerry after the burial took place in the wrong grave.

According to reports on Radio Kerry, Kerry County Council carried the exhumation and reburial at John Paul II Cemetery in Listowel in recent days.

The cemetery was closed to the public last Friday morning while the exhumation and reburial took place.

Officials from the council as well as environmental health officers from the HSE were present.

Kerry County Council , at the request of the families involved, said it would make no comment on the circumstances surrounding the reburial.

- Original reporting by Digital Desk