Dungiven parishioner calls for trees in graveyard to be cut down

The two trees at the entrance to the graveyard at St Patrick's Church.

placeholder image — The two trees at the entrance to the graveyard at St Patrick's Church.

The trees at the entrance to the graveyard are causing damage to numerous rows of graves

A Dungiven parishioner has called for two trees to be cut down in a local cemetery due to the damage she believes they are causing to graves.

The woman, who preferred not to be named, said the trees at the entrance to the graveyard at St Patrick's Church are causing damage to numerous rows of graves, which she says as a result cannot be maintained to a high enough standard.

The woman says fallen leaves and birds defecating from the trees onto her father's grave means she has to clean it 'every other day'.

“The trees have always been causing a problem but it’s been much worse this last two or three years,” the woman said.

“Bird poo is leaving a while mess on the graves, it’s not just affecting my daddy’s grave, it’s affecting about five rows of graves.

“So many people are talking about it. Some people are so emotionally upset over it.”

The woman said wasps also swarm around the trees during the warmer months meaning the area is a 'no-go zone'.

“I actually fell one day and cut myself as I was running to get away from the wasps,” she explained.

The woman says she has referred the issue to the Bishop of Derry and also the parish however she believes she was 'fobbed off'.

“The bishop told me it was the parish’s responsibility,” she continued.

“When I first contacted the parish I was told it was the birds’ fault and that they couldn’t take the trees down as it would cost too much money. It was suggested that people were willing to pay for the trees to be cut down but I was told no and that there were lots of trees over on the other side of the graveyard that are the same and they couldn’t be taken down. However a number of those trees on the other side were cut down recently.

Fallen leaves are causing a mess on graves.

“I’ve now been told that they are trying to get protected status for the trees.”

The woman says she, along with other parishioners, would like to see the trees cut down.

“The last thing I can do for my daddy is to have his final resting place looking nice. I am really particular and I like keeping the grave clean. I paid for stones to be cleaned one day and it cost £40. I may as well not have done that because two days later they were as bad as ever.

“I’m absolutely gutted every time I go to the grave and see the mess. I think it disrespects my father so much.

“I like to keep my daddy’s grave clean but it seems the parish has no respect for these graves.

“I would like to see the trees being cut down. It sounds so petty but it’s not nice having to constantly deal with this mess.”

Dungiven Parish was contacted for comment however at the time of printing had failed to respond.