Mourners faced with 'atrocious' conditions at cemeteries

Funerals have been disrupted because of the icy weather and treacherous underfoot conditions at Coleraine and Ballywillan cemeteries.

One mourner contact the Times last week to claim that one funeral service at Coleraine Cemetery was held amid dangerous and upsetting conditions.

He claimed that a funeral director fell three times on the slippery surface and family members barely reached the graveside to pay their last respects to a loved one.

"The funeral car slid back down the hill such was the terrible condition of the graveyard. It was an absolute disgrace - the family had to be helped to the graveside by gravediggers and the rest of the mourners had to walk up the side of a fence.

"Council has a responsibility to maintain the graveyards in the borough and they simply are not doing that. Salt is being diverted to Craigahulliar for use by bin lorries."

Undertaker Hugh Wade confirmed that conditions at the funeral had been "atrocious".

"The car park and the paths at Coleraine had not been salted and the family was unable to walk behind the cortege."

Immediately after the service he notified Council about the matter as he had other funerals to conduct at Ballywillan which had even steeper inclines.

Hugh confirmed that Council had acted swiftly to attempt to address the problem at both cemeteries.

"My main concern would be for the families who have enough to go through without this extra hassle," he said.

SDLP councillor John Dallat said he had received complaints about the state of both cemeteries but was hopeful that the situation would be addressed urgently to allow burials to take place safely and with dignity.

He told the Times: "It is most unedifying to learn that mourners have experiencing difficulty getting to the graves of their loved ones to be present for their last funeral rights and it horrifies me that a hearse has been stuck with its wheels spinning.

"This is clearly the responsibility of Coleraine Borough Council and I have asked them to ensure that in all circumstances grieving mourners are not inconvenienced or exposed to even more distress than they are already experiencing.

"I am confident that the matter will now be addressed but it should never have to come to this stage and hopefully other families will not have the same dreadful experience.

"I have to say that in the case of funerals the Roads Service has a good record of gritting roads for families who are preparing for funerals. In this case it is clearly the responsibility of the local council where they are providing burying ground in municipal cemeteries."

A spokesperson for Coleraine Borough Council said on Thursday: "Coleraine Borough Council is focusing every effort on the maintenance of essential public services, including waste collection, cemeteries and civic amenity sites.

"Council will continue to salt and grit these facilities as a priority. Public roads remain the responsibility of the Roads Service.

"Due to the extended period of severe weather, the shortage of road salt and grit is becoming a Province-wide problem. Council is obtaining salt from all available sources and is working on alternative solutions.

"Over the coming days a number of funerals are scheduled to take place at the Ballywillan and Coleraine Cemeteries. Therefore both facilities have been prioritised for further work to ensure that safe access is maintained.

"We ask the public to be patient whilst we do our best to maintain services in the current challenging conditions."