Coosan Cemetery joyriding "like Mondello racetrack"

A number of disturbing claims about the scale of anti-social behaviour in Coosan Cemetery, including joyriding "like Mondello racetrack", overnight fireworks displays, and contractors erecting "gigantic headstones" under the cover of darkness, were made at the September meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District.

The issue was raised by Cllr John Dolan, who tabled a motion calling on the council to discuss cemetery bylaws, including the maintenance of, and code of behaviour in, cemeteries across the district.

His motion prompted a flood of claims from a number of councillors about the nature and frequency of anti-social behaviour in Coosan cemetery, with Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran describing it as “a free for all”.

He claimed that Gardai were being called to the cemetery “at all hours of the day and night, with their sirens on,” which was very upsetting for local residents who have loved ones buried there.

“Cars are driving up through the middle of the graveyard. It's like Mondello racetrack. It's nothing short of a joke,” said Cllr Moran.

“We fought long and hard to get the gates into the graveyard open but now it's going to come to a time when we may have to close them again.”

Cllr Frankie Keena described cemeteries as “sacred places” and claimed that “fireworks are going off” in Coosan cemetery in the middle of the night.

“It's disgraceful, they are showing no respect,” he said.

The Fianna Fail representative also said that both Coosan and Cornamagh cemeteries have some “gigantic headstones” and claimed that many of them “went up overnight” when contractors came into the cemetery “under cover of darkness” to put them up and be gone again before the next morning.

“We have guidelines about the height of gravestones, these people are coming in joyriding, letting off fireworks and putting up gigantic headstones,” he said. “This has to be stamped out.”

While the District Manager, Willie Ryan, told members that the bylaws around cemeteries were “quite robust” he admitted that the council had taken “no robust action to date” to deal with any of the issues in Coosan cemetery which had been highlighted at the municipal district meeting.

“You are frustrated and we are frustrated,” Mr Ryan told members, “but what do we do if someone completely ignores the bylaws?

"We have not followed any contractors, but maybe we might have to do it,” he suggested, adding that he has seen similar issues arise “in other graveyards.”

Cllr John Dolan said “surely the last sanctuary from anti-social behaviour should be a graveyard,” and he said it didn't matter what byelaws Westmeath County Council has if they are not being implemented.

“We might as well have two million bylaws,” he remarked.

“They need to be strengthened and implemented, but none of us want to see the gates into Coosan cemetery being closed again.”