THE parents of a murdered west Belfast boxer have expressed shock at being ordered to remove their son's headstone.
Eamonn Magee jnr's family said they have been given 28 days to remove the boxing glove-shaped headstone from Hannahstown Cemetery.
They are the second grieving family to speak out after being told to remove their loved one's headstone from the graveyard.
A solicitor's letter was sent to 23-year-old Emma Nolan's family about her pink butterfly-shaped headstone.
The parish cemetery committee said a number of people have been asked to remove headstones erected "without approval" and in breach of regulations.
It is unclear how many families have been affected.
Read more:Young west Belfast mum's family told to remove headstone
Eamonn jnr (22) was a rising star in the boxing world, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father Eamonn Magee snr, a former welterweight champion.
He was stabbed to death in Twinbrook in 2015. A man was jailed in 2017 for a minimum of 14 years after admitting his murder.
Eamonn's mother Mary Magee said she "squealed" when they received a letter last week ordering them to remove his headstone.
She said the headstone has been in place for around two years and no issue was raised at the time.
"It really meant something to us, because of Eamonn and wee Eamonn – they're both boxers," she said.
"It's very worrying what's going to happen over it. Why would it have to come down?"
Eamonn Magee snr said he has been in touch with his solicitor about the issue.
"My son was a great fighter. I just thought it was appropriate to get him a headstone that was a boxing glove," he said.
He said various other headstones in the cemetery are significantly larger than his son's headstone.
The Parish of Hannahstown Cemetery Committee expressed regret at the "distress to both bereaved families and the broader parish community".
But it said that, in common with most burial places, regulations have been established on headstones and memorials.
These are for "efficient maintenance" and to ensure memorials are "suitable for the setting and that the dignity of the cemetery is maintained", a spokesman said in a statement.
Families and funeral directors "sign such leases with the parish cemetery committee which include an agreement to observe the regulations of the cemetery".
"In accordance with the established regulations, a number of individuals who have erected headstones in recent months without the approval and permission of the cemetery committee have been contacted and advised to remove or replace these non-compliant headstones," he added.
The committee said to "avoid such situations in the future" it should be approached by sculptors in advance "to ensure that the proposed design falls within the cemetery regulations".
Read more:Young west Belfast mum's family told to remove headstone
