A contractor has recently removed large parts of a controversial towering 15 foot high monument and statues erected at Sligo Cemetery last month.
The cemetery was closed off to the public by Gardaí around 6.30am as a contractor working on behalf of the County Council moved in to remove parts of the headstone and statues.
Gardaí closed off each entrance to the graveyard since 6.30am as they awaited the arrival of a contractor.
The large surround and headstone caused much controversy since being erected on October 22 with the Council subsequently confirming it was in breach of its height restrictions of five feet for a triple plot.
The headstone, statues and surround dwarfed all other graves in the new extension to Sligo’s main graveyard and which is located opposite Sligo Racecourse.
Large parts of the original monument including statues were removed in an operation carried out early on Friday.
The monument was erected on behalf of the family of a 23 year old man, Willie (Willy) McGinley who was killed in an accident on November 1 2024 and whose subsequent funeral in Sligo featured a horse drawn carriage pulled by four black horses accompanied by over 30 super cars.
The grave attracted much comment and visitors to the graveyard over the past week.
The contractor took a couple of hours to remove the structure and the graveyard reopened soon afterwards to the public.
It would appear the work has reduced the headstone and surrounds to the required five feet in height.
A large Garda presence had been in place including uniform and plainclothes units as the work took place.