Northern Ireland

Dungannon burial ground could 'burst onto public roadway', council warns

Drumglass Old Burial Ground
Drumglass Old Burial Ground Drumglass Old Burial Ground

A CEMETERY wall in Co Tyrone could "burst onto the public roadway and expose grave contents", a council has warned.

Remedial works "to prevent exposing graves" have been proposed for an old burial ground outside Dungannon following structural concerns.

The repairs at the Drumglass Old Burial Ground on Rossmore Road will cost an estimated £17,000.

In papers presented to a Mid Ulster council committee, officials said the existing retaining stone wall is "showing signs of structural failure" and an adjacent mature tree is contributing to the problem.

"If this retaining wall fails it may burst onto the public roadway and expose grave contents. The mature tree is also near an overhead electric line," the council report said.

"Remediation works are required in order to prevent further damage following an engineer's report on the wall and arboricultural report on the mature trees on site."

As a "risk management priority", it is proposed that the retaining wall is repaired and a tree removed as part of the "public safety remedial works to prevent exposing graves".

The council told Tyrone Herald the request is now subject to ratification by councillors at the end of this month.

It is expected the work would be scheduled and completed within the current financial year, the newspaper reported.

Covering about a third of an acre, Drumglass Old Burial Ground is a small rural graveyard surrounded by a stone wall and beech trees, and is believed to date back to medieval times.