LIMERICK City and County Council was questioned by one Limerick councillor about why the graveyards gates were not left open on Christmas Day (December 25) at Mount St Oliver Cemetery in Limerick City.
Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery, PrÃomh Chomhairleoir (chief councillor) of Limerick Council, also called on the local authority at January’s Metropolitan District meeting to explain what measures are currently being taken to prevent this from happening again.
The Council told Cllr Slattery that it engages the services of a security company to open and close the gates at Mount St Oliver Cemetery on days where no staff are present.
The local authority said that there were delays in opening the gates on December 25 last as the Council “did not “explicitly request this service on Christmas Day” from the company.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
“On Christmas Day, as staff became aware of the closed gates, attendance on site was arranged to ensure the gates were open,” senior executive officer at the Council’s Parks and Cemeteries Department, Sonja Reidy, told Council members.
Upon review with the security company, Ms Reidy said that it has been agreed that requirements for opening and closing over the Christmas period will be explicitly communicated and confirmed in advance each year.
“On behalf of the cemeteries team, I wish to apologies and express our deep regret at the distress caused to those who wished to visit loved ones on Christmas Day and provide assurances that measures are now in place to prevent a reoccurrence,” she added.