Crowe meets with distraught parents over Bohernabreena 

Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe met this morning with distraught parents who have loved ones buried in Bohernabreena Cemetery near Tallaght.  The parents are  angry and upset at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for what they say is  “the complete lack of sensitivity they have shown” after works carried out recently by contractors in the cemetery.

Deputy Crowe said “The people whom I met with today are upset and angry at the way the Council has pushed ahead with work on a section of the ‘Angels Plot’ in the cemetery. The installation of a footpath near to and taking sections off the graves was carried out without any consultation with grieving parents, some of whom have had loved ones interred in that section of the cemetery just months ago.

“The  burial plots are for babies and infants.

“One parent I spoke to showed me the damage that had been done to the surround of her childs grave. She was understandably distraught and extremely upset at what has occurred. She claimed they got notification and learned of contract works on facebook.

“One worrying part of this incident is  that the Council would seem to  have learned nothing from a previous upset where bereaved families were told by letter to remove personal items from graves in a section of the graveyard or they would be removed by Council Staff. This  caused a good deal of hurt and upset and families are still ringing  to seek assurances that personal items like grave marble dedication books will not be removed and dumped somewhere.

(A promised follow up meeting between the South Dublin County Council, family members and myself never happened.)

“Bohernabreena graveyard should be somewhere that parents should be able to come, free from pressure and worries about the graves of their loved ones being partly dug or interfered with.

“The installation of  a footpath that cuts into or alongside grave would in my humble opinion a least merit a call or letter to parents that have loved ones interred.

“The approach taken by the council and the lack of feeling and insensivity shown in dealing with grieving families in this incident has really shocked me.

“I am hoping arrange a meeting today with senior managment and will be registering my formal protest to the County manager on this issue.  

 “The families affected by these decisions are understandably aggrieved and there is major opposition to the council’s attitude.