Council slammed for closing car access to cemetery

Westmeath County Council has been accused of being “massively insensitive and lacking in empathy” for locking the main gate in Coosan Cemetery recently, meaning cars could not access the graveyard.

While the pedestrian gate was open, a reader, who did not wish to be named said: “Although there is a sign stating that the cemetery gate is closed at night and weekends, the main gate has always been open. That is until this weekend.

“It did not inconvenience me as I am able-bodied and capable of bringing in Christmas wreaths or flowerpots, etc. But it was a major problem for numerous others who, at this time of the year, would be tidying up their family or friend’s graves.

“Many of these people are elderly and had significant difficulty in ferrying or barrowing items into the graveyard,” the Westmeath Independent reader pointed out, adding that he visits the cemetery almost daily, and while he understands the main gate may have to be closed at certain times, but to do so the weekend before Christmas was “massively insensitive and lacking in empathy” towards those grieving at such a difficult and busy time.

Cllr Frankie Keena, who is Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, confirmed that the local authority has taken the decision to have the main gate only open from 8am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 2pm on Fridays, following some complaints that headstones were damaged accidentally by cars.

He apologised for the inconvenience caused to the public and promised to raise the issue with the local authority in a bid to see how people can be accommodated at weekends.

Council staff will be on-site to give assistance to people when the main gate is open, he said, adding that outside of these times the pedestrian gate will be available to access the burial ground.