Belfast City Council has issued an apology about the state of some graves at Roselawn Cemetery after more were found to have been poorly kept and neglected.
The Belfast Telegraph reported yesterday that some graves had been left in “distressing” states, with muck knocked over them by passing vehicles.
Belfast man Sam Bright was among those who hit out after revealing the state of his father and sister’s graves had left his mother “in tears”.
The council have since apologised and the family confirmed the grave has now been tidied up by officials.
Sam Bright’s dad and sister’s graves tidied up.
Now others have come forward sharing similar stories — with the council admitting sections of the cemetery “have not been repaired and maintained to a satisfactory standard” recently.
Johnny Keenan (57) from Belfast visited his mum’s grave on Mother’s Day of 2023 to find it in what he described as “an awful state”.
He explained the grave looked like it had been dug up and described what appeared to be vehicle tracks all over it.
He said: “To be fair to them, they did fix it.
“It didn’t really bother me but I just saw other people sitting or looking at their graves and they were so upset, I just thought: ‘This is wrong’ and made a complaint.”
Mr Keenan, who works in construction, added: “I’m thinking of it more from a construction point of view — it’s a tripping hazard and there are a lot of elderly people who visit this site.
“Surely they have an obligation to keep the graves in a safe condition.”
Local Green party councillor Brian Smyth said that he had raised the issue with Belfast City Council within the last 24 hours.
Councillor Smyth said: “If I was in the same position I would feel exactly the same, I totally get it.
“Roselawn cemetery has five to six burials every day and I know that they have been operating in difficult conditions with bad weather.
“But I don’t think that is good enough — there is learning to be done here.
“I have asked for some signage to be put up to let people know that they are opening up new graves and it’s an operational site.
“We could also contact families to let them know that there may be some disturbance to graves and we will ensure to repair it as soon as possible.”
DUP East Belfast MLA Joanne Bunting said: “My office has received complaints about the condition of graves in Roselawn and Dundonald cemeteries and indeed difficulties at times caused by maintenance.
Sam Bright
“On each occasion when we have raised a problem on behalf of a constituent, the council has addressed it.
“Nevertheless these graveyards are sacred places of remembrance to bereaved families for those we loved and lost, myself included.
“It is immensely distressing for grieving relatives to come upon the resting place of their loved ones in such poor condition.
“Graveyards should be places of comfort and solace to those in grief; they should not have the appearance of building sites.
“The council must move to ensure its cemeteries are kept in a manner and condition befitting the nature of the facility where people are laid to rest in dignified surroundings and families can take comfort that the grave sites of their loved ones will be treated and tended with due respect and care.“
Belfast City Council apologised for the unsatisfactory condition of the graves alongside “the upset this has caused to the families and friends of loved ones whose graves are in the vicinity”.
A spokesperson from the council added: “While this area of the cemetery sees multiple burials each day and requires regular access by machinery, we acknowledge that sections have not been repaired and maintained to a satisfactory standard following recent burials.
“Our Bereavement Services team will take immediate steps to ensure that this area is maintained to a satisfactory standard in future.”