A grave situation looming for PJ

A request for a 90-year-old West Clare man to repaint his family vault has been condemned as a case of “bureaucracy gone mad”

Clare County Council has given PJ Curtin, Craggaknock, Mullagh, three weeks to repaint his family vault in a nearby burial ground or else pay for any costs incurred by the council in doing so. However, Mr Curtin hasn’t any intention of repainting this vault, which is currently bright yellow, the same colour as his cottage, as he believes he hasn’t done anything wrong.

In a recent letter to Mr Curtin, the council stated it had come to its attention that he was responsible for the painting of a family vault in Clohanes Burial Ground.

“Please note that this burial ground is a recorded monument and as such any works must be in keeping with surrounding vaults and burial plots.

“As such, you are requested to return the family vault to its natural stone within 21 days from the date of this letter. If you fail to do so, the council will arrange to have the work completed and you will be responsible for any costs incurred by the council,” the authority stated.

PJ’s late father, Peter, and his aunt, Mary Ann, are buried in one of the seven vaults in Clohanes cemetery. He painted the vault yellow about three years ago and repainted it the same colour about 18 months ago. The rest of the vaults are grey or whitewashed.

PJ told The Clare Champion he was very surprised to get this letter and can’t understand what issue the council has with his choice of colour. He insists he hasn’t any intention of changing the colour at this stage.
PJ was hospitalised in Ennistymon Hospital for almost three weeks recently after a fall and didn’t get the letter until last week.

His nephew David Curtin claimed the council has no legal basis for sending this letter because the national guidelines for the Care and Conservation of Graveyards make no reference to painting a vault or headstone any particular colour.

Mr Curtin pointed out the only reference to the document, which the council referred him to when he contacted them, was a requirement not to apply paint to gravestone inscriptions, which wasn’t done in this case.

He said it was very distressing for an elderly person to get a letter like this after coming out of hospital and feels the council could have sent someone around to try and explain the situation if it was entitled to do so.

“This is a case of bureaucracy gone mad. The council could have conducted more research on who applied the paint. How could the council send out a ‘blanket’ letter like this without checking out the situation?

“PJ had no idea the council would have an issue with this colour. Once he is finished painting his cottage, he uses any leftover paint to paint the family vault,” he explained.

The booklet for the care of national monuments states that wire brushes or sandblasters can’t be used on headstones while ribbon pointing on old boundary walls or buildings is also forbidden.

A council spokesman stated the authority is reviewing the newspaper’s query and would have a full response in the coming days.