Cemetery Memorial inspections

Essential memorial inspections across cemeteries in the City and Strabane districts over the coming months. This proactive programme of works is being implemented to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff who use these significant public spaces.

Cemeteries are places of deep personal and emotional significance and is reassuring the public that these inspections will be undertaken with the utmost care and respect for all who visit and remember loved ones.

Importance of Memorial Inspections
The primary purpose of the inspections is to fulfil the Council’s legal duties to protect public safety. Over time, memorial headstones can become unstable due to various factors including varying weather conditions, ground movement and natural wear and tear.
Whilst rare, an unstable memorial can present a risk of injury, and the planned inspections allow the Council to identify any potential concerns early and manage them responsibly.

Assessing the Memorials
Each memorial will be carefully assessed by trained Council staff, and any potential risks will be evaluated through a structured inspection and risk assessment process. Any action taken will be proportionate to the level of risk identified, with the aim of maintaining safety while minimising disturbance wherever possible and also being mindful of the location and the need for extra compassion and care.

Unstable Memorials
If a memorial is found to pose a serious and immediate risk, the Council may need to take prompt action to make it safe. This could include carefully laying the memorial down or taking other necessary protective measures. The public are being assured that Council will make every effort to contact the grave owner as soon as possible to provide an update on the situation and to outline the next steps.

Updating Contact Details
Council is conscious of the fact that it may not have contact details for grave owners and for that reason is encouraging grave owners to ensure their contacts details are up to date with their local cemetery to ensure that they are contactable should their grave be impacted by the inspection check. If your contact details need updated you are encouraged to contact the Cemetery team directly on 028 71362615 or by emailing  [email protected]

The inspections are expected to commence later this month commencing at the City Cermetery and then the Strabane town cemetery. It is anticipated that the work could take up to a year.

Anyone who has any queries or questions relating to the inspection process or wants to update their contact details are encouraged to contact the Cemetery team directly at Tel:  028 71362615 or by emailing  [email protected]

The policy can be viewed here