Fire was 'avoidable'

It's understood the fire was started at the St Michael's end of St Colman's Cemetery by a small number of teenagers who set fire to rubbish which had gathered at the foot of a hedge.

The fire brigade responded quickly and were able to get the blaze under control before irreversible damage was caused to graves in the cemetery.

Just a few weeks ago the 'MAIL' reported how youths went on a wrecking spree in the nearby Sisters of Mercy convent.

Sinn Fein Councillor Noel McGeown said: "Thankfully this fire was swiftly brought under control by the Fire Brigade who responded to the call out in a very quick time and had it not been for their prompt action serious damage could have been caused to surrounding head stones by the fierce heat of the blaze.”

Councillor McGeown claimed the litter used to start the fire was mostly discarded plastic and paper flower wrappings and plastic water containers which have ended up trapped in the hedge after being discarded in the cemetery.

He pointed out that the fire could have been avoided if the small number of visitors who leave their litter behind had acted responsibly and had taken their litter home with them.

The councillor said: “Young people have little or no concept of the dangers of fire or of the speed and ferocity with which a blaze can spread and it lies with parents to take responsibility for ensuring that their children know and understand the risks of playing with fire.

"However, those individuals who randomly dump their litter have also to accept their responsibilities and the consequences of their littering. When containers or wrapping is finished with it should be brought home or disposed of in a proper way and not left behind in the cemetery where it will eventually end up blowing in to the surrounding hedges.”