A COUNCIL has denied a family permission to erect a rainbow-coloured headstone in memory of their son.
Shayne Magee from Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh died on September 27 2014.
The eight year-old Willowbridge School pupil suffered from a rare form of epilepsy.
A month ago his family presented plans for a special headstone at their son's final resting place, but met with opposition from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, who refused the rainbow memorial.
The proposed design featured a coloured stone rainbow.
According to regulations at Cross Cemetery in Enniskillen a memorial should 'be made of dark grey or black stone' and 'be no more than 130cm in height, 122cm in width and 30cm in breadth'. However there is no reference in the guidelines about the use of additional colours.
After the initial setback Shayne's father Damian Lynch proposed alterations to the original design, reducing the overall colour, but again they were unsuccessful.
Matters came to a head at a meeting with council officials earlier this week when they were told the use of colour could possibly upset other cemetery visitors.
"Since the issue has gone public several families who have a loved one buried close to Shayne's grave have expressed their disbelief at these comments and their support of our cause," Mr Lynch said.
"They have absolutely no concern with colour in the graveyard."
Willowbridge School principal Julie Murphy said the rainbow design summed up Shayne's life.
"When he passed away we created a memorial board for Shayne which went to the church for his funeral and it had rainbows all over it.
"Our school choir got up and sang 'the rainbow song' at the funeral and at the end we also had coloured helium balloons like the rainbow and released them into the sky to represent Shayne and his colourful personality," she added.
Fermanagh and Omagh District has said the headstone did not meet the criteria due to the "colour scheme of the stone rainbow".
"The Council remains willing to liaise with the family and stonemason to help to amend the design to be in line with cemetery guidance. It is hoped that any early meeting will help to bring the matter to a satisfactory resolution," a spokesman said.
Shayne's parents however are hopeful of getting the original decision overturned.
"I expect common sense to prevail and a headstone that represents our son's colourful life is allowed to be placed at our son's grave," Mr Lynch added.
