Council to undertake Cemetery Memorial inspections
12 February 2026
Derry City and Strabane District Council has confirmed that it will be carrying out 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.
The Council appreciates that 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.
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.
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.
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. Council is also 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.
Derry City and Strabane District Council currently owns and maintains a number of cemeteries across the City and District. In the Derry area this includes: the City Cemetery, Lone Moor Road; Alla Claudy Cemetery, Claudy; Ballyoan Cemetery, Rossdowney Road, Waterside; and Altnagelvin Cemetery, Church Brae, Waterside, and in the Strabane area, Aughalane, Glenelly Road, Ardstraw New, Magheracolton Road; Castlederg, Drumquin Road; Mountcastle, Duncastle Road, Strabane, Cemetery Road and Urney New, Urney Road.
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.
A Council spokesperson appealing to the public’s co-operation, said: “We fully understand the sensitivity surrounding this work and want to thank the public in advance for their understanding and cooperation as we carry out this important health and safety work. Our goal is to ensure our cemeteries remain safe and respectful spaces for all members of the community to visit and reflect. We can only do this with the support of the public.”
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 Email:[email protected]
To view the Cemetery policy visit our website at – www.derrystrabane.com/cemeterymemorialinspections