Compromise reached over use of disputed Fermanagh graveyard

A compromise appears to have been reached in the Catholic diocese of Clogher over burials at a disputed graveyard in Muleek, …

A compromise appears to have been reached in the Catholic diocese of Clogher over burials at a disputed graveyard in Muleek, Co Fermanagh.

Last year the church instructed the O'Connor family in the parish to exhume the body of Vincent O'Connor, who was buried in ground close to St Michael's Church in Muleek in January 2005. Now, however, while not recognising this burial ground, the diocese has accepted that interments can take place at this site.

Neither the Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy, nor anyone else from the diocesan office was available for comment yesterday, but after a second burial at the site yesterday local sources said the order to have the body of Mr O'Connor exhumed no longer applied.

An injunction preventing the O'Connor family from visiting his grave also appears to have been lifted. The church had insisted that an alternative new graveyard at Magherameenagh, one mile from Muleek, which was consecrated by Dr Duffy, was now the official graveyard.

This dispute had caused ill-feeling but now a compromise of sorts has been reached.

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Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times