Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Mothers brand state of cemetery ‘disgraceful’
A GROUP of bereaved mums are considering having their babies exhumed from a Dundee cemetery after branding the site a “disgrace”.
The mothers, who regularly visit Birkhill Cemetery, could now be set to meet council chiefs after Lisa Williamson, 43, from Douglas, started a petition demanding the local authority takes action.
She has written an open letter to the local authority, as well as gardeners who work at Birkhill, saying she feels the condition of the cemetery has gradually declined, including it being overgrown with weeds at several spots.
The mums have renamed the baby garden section of the cemetery as the “forgotten corner”.
Lisa said: “If I had known our angels would be treated with no meaning in their final resting places, then there is not a chance I would have laid them to rest at Birkhill. I have said that if these were any of the council workers’ children, then I would very much doubt other mums and I would endure the awful sights that have greeted us when visiting our babies.”
The 43-year-old, who laid twins Kaisha and Kenzie to rest in 2008, said the problems started to occur a few years ago.
Lisa says she feels let down and is considering the possibility of having her children exhumed.
She added: “It has got to the point where we feel like there is no other option, as no one is doing anything. The twins’ father and I have discussed it with lawyers and they said we can do it so long as we provide proof there is reason for it.
“It’s completely immoral. We should not have to do be doing this just because workers cannot look after the cemetery.”
Nicki Smith, 56, from Lochee, laid her daughter Layla to rest in the cemetery 11 months ago and has described the baby garden a “disgrace”.
She added: “The council might have gone and tidied it up but it’s too little, too late. It’s been an eyesore over the last few months and it’s got to the point where I do not take my other children, as it’s too distressing for them.”
“Having my daughter exhumed is something I have talked about to Lisa as an option.”
Katie McAlister, 36, from Kirkton, said: “Lately, the baby garden just hasn’t been maintained. It’s such a shame. I feel like my daughter, Katherine, as well as the other children, are being neglected — I’m not going to accept it. Yes, my daughter died, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve to have a place to rest in.”
Since the Tele was made aware of the issue, gardeners are believed to have been to the section of the cemetery and carried out some work.
Despite this, the mums still feel they have been neglected.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We will be contacting the organisers of the petition to offer a meeting and to discuss the issues raised directly.”