Newry City Councillor Aidan Mathers has said that senior Council officers must ensure that any work carried out at Council Municipal Cemeteries are done so in a sensitive and respectful manner.
The Councillor who is Chairperson of the Newry City District Electoral Area, made his comments after his colleague Councillor Valerie Harte raised concerns about damage being done to graves in the Monks Hill cemetery.
The Sinn Féin Councillor said,
“I have been shown Photos where machines have been tracked across other graves leaving clear large track marks on graves.
Also there are instances where planks have been placed across graves to facilitate machinery moving, resulting in graves and the surrounds left in a terrible state ”.
Aidan continued,
“I share the grave concerns of Cllr Harte the local councillor for the area. This is totally unacceptable practice.
I contacted senior Council management about these concerns but as of yet I have had no response.
I certainly understand that accessibility can be an issue but this type of practice is totally unacceptable. It causes huge distress for families who have lost their loved ones”.
Concluding Councillor Mather’s said,
“I expect senior management to address these concerns as a matter of urgency”.
Ends
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