Friday, July 18, 2008

Council bans oversized headstones

A LOCAL authority is clamping down on the number of large headstones being erected at graveyards without permission.

The decision comes after Limerick County Council officials removed a large cross erected on top of a headstone in Relig Mhuire graveyard in Askeaton.

The crucifix was estimated to be up to eight feet in height and was considered to be unsafe.

The headstone was deemed to be erected in breach of guidelines, as set out under the council's Burial Ground Policy.

Unsafe

Administrative Officer with Limerick County Council, Michael Griffin, said permission was given to a local resident to erect a headstone at the Askeaton cemetery in July last year.

"It subsequently came to our attention that a cross was added to the headstone, bringing the overall height of the structure above the permissible height of 4'6". The council removed the cross after numerous meetings and written submissions to the resident asking them to remove it proved unsuccessful," Mr Griffin said.

The local authority's Burial Ground Policy states that no tomb, monument, vault, headstone, tablet or permanent structure shall be erected in the cemetery, unless the structure has a certificate of permission from the council's engineer.

The heights of any structure proposed must not exceed 1.2 metres.

"Limerick County Council will continue to investigate breaches of these regulations by conducting examinations of all newly erected structures in burial grounds.

"Such inspections will be carried out in the interests of public safety and in accordance with guidelines set out under the burial ground policy," Mr Griffin concluded.
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