Dog ban urged after flowers fouled at grave

Agrieving son is pleading with Dundee City Council to ban pets from cemeteries after finding dog mess on his mother’s grave.

Michael Creagh’s mum Helen was buried at Balgay Cemetery on February 10, where his brother Kevin is also laid to rest.

The 36-year-old said he attended on Friday afternoon and found a floral arrangement covered in excrement.

Mr Creagh complained to a worker at the cemetery who revealed there had been some discussions about banning dogs from cemeteries in the past.

The former Lawside Academy pupil said he was “disgusted” by what had happened before urging the council to take tougher action.

He said: “The man we spoke to at the cemetery said the council were not allowing for dogs to be banned at cemeteries.

“They should always be on leads apparently – which they aren’t.

“I’ve spoken with dog owners in the past urging them to get their dogs on the leads.

“I was aware of this happening at the graves before, with dogs doing their business, as my brother is also laid to rest here.

“When I saw this last week on my mother’s flowers I was raging.

“I know when Kevin passed that my mum talked about putting a fence around the grave for similar reasons.

“Apparently we can’t do that as council workers need to cut the grass.

“I would happily come up and remove it for when they are going to cut the grass – at least that would put some sort of deterrent around the grave.

“This shouldn’t be happening though. These are people’s loved ones’ resting place and people need to have more respect for that and keep their dogs under control.”

Mr Creagh posted the scene online and it had generated a number of responses, with many branding it “disgusting” and “out of order”.

He added: “The worker at the cemetery said there was only so much they could do. The council should act on it now as far as I’m concerned.

“There should be no more dogs in cemeteries, they should be banned, as it’s beyond a joke now.

“If they can’t allow for that to happen there needs to be some sort of tougher action.

“I know it’s happened for years at the cemetery but, after seeing this at my mum’s grave, I decided to share it online.

“Many people are in agreement that it was disgusting that this had happened.”

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “Any dogs in cemeteries should be kept under close control on a lead at all times.

“The council encourages all owners to act responsibility and clear up after their dog.

“We underline the issues through social media and have highlighted the messages through the high profile Take Pride in Your City campaign.

“We ask dog owners to use nearby litter bins.”

One of Dundee’s leading sheriffs will leave the city next month for a post in his native Glasgow, but will take a host of fond memories with him.

Tom Hughes well recalls the day in 2004 he was appointed to his distinguished role in the City of Discovery.

All that was left was to share the big announcement with his family.

“At the time, there weren’t a lot of sheriffs who were prepared to come here because of the travel from Glasgow or Edinburgh,” he said.

“I vividly remember the day I was appointed and I told my wife Janice. Then I told her it was going to be at Dundee Sheriff Court.

“She burst out crying – and they weren’t tears of joy!

“Because of personal circumstances, the whole family moved up to Dundee from Glasgow and it was the very best thing that ever happened to us.”

The sheriff heaped praise on the staff of the court he has served as well as the Faculty of Procurators and Solicitors, Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis and experts at Ninewells Hospital and the city’s universities.

And he believes the city itself has a bright future.

He said: “Over the years, I have greatly appreciated the fantastic support both I and the other sheriffs have received from the clerks, bar officers, social workers, solicitors and cleaning staff who all provide fantastic work.

“Dundee is so well served by our social workers and we have the benefit of (court liaison officer) Helena Garrigan who does an excellent job and goes well above the call of duty.

“It’s a testament to the excellent work done that

Dundee Sheriff Court is seen as one of the most efficient courts in Scotland.

“Many people throughout Scotland have indicated to me how impressed they are at the strides made in Dundee with the development that’s going on.

“I leave happy in the knowledge that the future looks good for Dundee.”

Sheriff Hughes was formerly a partner at Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire firm Mcauley Mccarthy & Co from 1980 until 2003, primarily practising in civil litigation.

In 2004, he was appointed resident sheriff at Dundee, making potentially life-altering decisions on a daily basis.

“These decisions affect everyone,” Sheriff Hughes added.

“It can be very difficult as a sheriff to make decisions which you might not want to make but you have to be true to your oath of office in administering justice fairly.

“That can mean your decisions will have a catastrophic effect but you have to live with your conscience and know that you are making the right decision. Safe in the knowledge that if the sheriff is wrong – and I have been wrong many times – then it will be corrected by the appeal court.”

The scourge of drug addiction has featured heavily in many of the cases brought before the sheriff.

Last year, the sheriff, who also serves as a High Court judge, lambasted the “evil” of drug dealers.

He added: “As a sheriff, I have the privileged position of being able to monitor what is happening in the sheriffdom and it’s sad to see the difficulties that many families encounter by the problems caused by drug addiction.

“That gives an indication as to why we, as sheriffs, take a very serious view of people who deal in drugs. Over the years, I have seen many families ruined as a result of this horrendous problem.

“I have been able to witness the introduction of many programmes including drug treatment and the use of community payback orders which are all geared up for trying to assist people with difficulties caused by factors outwith their own control.”

History has now repeated itself for the sheriff as he prepares to bid farewell to the city he adores.

He concluded: “My wife was in tears at the prospect of coming to Dundee and now we find ourselves in tears at the prospect of leaving.”

BENCHMARK OF EXCELLENCE: Tom Hughes has seen Dundee Sheriff Court come to be regarded as one of the most efficient in Scotland.