Council accused of ‘insensitive’ delay after headstones damaged

Dundee headstones damaged in a freak car accident are being tidied up after what has been branded an “insensitive” delay.

Headstones in Balgay Cemetery were knocked over in August by a motorist who lost control of their car.

Councillor Charlie Malone criticised Dundee City Council’s response and said officials had not done enough to contact grieving families.

He said: “When it happened, the council just placed a wooden post at the graves with a number to call.

“Some of the families will live further away so they may not visit the grave for a long time.

“I think just leaving a number to call is perhaps not the best approach.

“The state of the headstones has meant the families have been grieving all over again. It’s a mess. It was, at least, insensitive. The council needs to be more proactive in finding the families.”

Some of the headstones were badly damaged in the incident, while others appear to have suffered only superficial scratches.

Around half a dozen of the worst damaged ones ended up underneath the car after it came to a stop.

Mr Malone added: “The council will have to find out which stones belong to which family. I think though that there needs to be an idea of what to do if those families can’t be found.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We have worked to ensure the headstones at the cemetery are safe for visitors.

“We have made efforts to contact the families affected by the accident.”

There were no injuries and no one was arrested or charged.