THE BISHOP of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor has apologised for the leasing of lands beside Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast that contained the unmarked graves of babies and older people.
In February the Northern Ireland Environment Agency carried out a site inspection survey of land around Milltown Cemetery to identify possible graves in which non-baptised babies and older people were interred.
Archaeologists from Queen’s University Belfast used radar equipment to identify the graves. The agency conducted the work at the request of the Catholic Church’s Down and Connor diocese on behalf of the trustees of Milltown Cemetery.
The lands investigated were leased by the Ulster Wildlife Trust who obtained them from the Diocese of Down and Connor and are outside the present legal boundaries of the cemetery.
Dr Treanor placed an advertisement in yesterday’s Irish News saying that while the land was leased in good faith it was apparent that some of the ground contained the unmarked graves.
“I, on behalf of the trustees of the cemetery, past and present, apologise to all those who have loved ones buried in this section of the cemetery and I regret the hurt and distress that this has caused,” said Dr Treanor.
“I want to reassure them that all necessary steps are being taken . . . to take back possession of this sacred land.”
Dr Treanor said when the ground was returned it would be restored to Milltown Cemetery and an appropriate monument would be erected.
Relatives of those buried in the ground welcomed the apology from Dr Treanor.
