Grief stricken widower horrified to find wife’s grave in a Portadown cemetery submerged in flood water

The grief stricken husband of Margaret Neill, who died tragically last November, was horrified to see her grave submerged in water this week.
By Carmel Robinson
Published 24th Feb 2022, 09:28 BST
Updated 24th Feb 2022, 09:35 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Mrs Neill died, aged 57, after a tough battle with cancer and her husband Tom is distraught to know her grave at Kernan Cemetery has flooded.

Mr Neill said he visited his wife’s grave regularly as it helps him with his grief.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Sunday, Mr Neill, who is also suffering from cancer, said he was disgusted at the state of Kernan Cemetery and the condition of his wife’s grave.

The grave of the late Yvonne Margaret Neill who died in Craigavon Area Hospital on November 4 having battled cancer. Her husband Tom is distraught that his beloved wife's grave is waterlogged at Kernan Cemetery in Portadown.The grave of the late Yvonne Margaret Neill who died in Craigavon Area Hospital on November 4 having battled cancer. Her husband Tom is distraught that his beloved wife's grave is waterlogged at Kernan Cemetery in Portadown.
The grave of the late Yvonne Margaret Neill who died in Craigavon Area Hospital on November 4 having battled cancer. Her husband Tom is distraught that his beloved wife's grave is waterlogged at Kernan Cemetery in Portadown.

“It is a disgrace. There is just no dignity. The whole grave is waterlogged and the graveyard is a bog,” said Mr Neill.

He is furious with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council which runs the cemetery.

“I would never have allowed my wife to be buried in that graveyard had I known this would happen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am told there was a similar case of flooding last year but the council did very little to fix it,” said Mr Neill.

“There is no point in throwing a bit of soil at it and planting some seeds. It needs properly drained.

“I am seriously considering having my wife’s body moved to another graveyard.

“I am nursed Margaret through her long illness and I am suffering from cancer myself.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I just can’t bear to think that my wife’s body is in such a grave full of water, a bog.

“This is all adding to my grief, knowing she is submerged in water. It is wrecking me,” he said.

Mr Neill said he had complained to the council about it.

“While they said they were sorry for my loss, they have never apologised about the state of my wife’s grave,” said Mr Neill.

A spokesperson for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said: “The Council has apologised to Mr Neill and his family in relation to this matter, caused by the extreme weather being experienced over recent days.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Council is extremely aware of the anguish this has caused and is actively looking to put in place possible drainage solutions to ensure that this never happens again.”

Mr Neill feels he has been ‘fobbed off’ by the council.

“I am not sure what guarantees they can give me that this won’t happen again,” he added.

“This should be a time when I come to terms with my grief. Not fighting with the local council about the state of my wife’s grave,” said the distraught widower.

Mr Neill feels so strongly about the current state of the graveyard that he is looking into the realities of having to exhume his wife’s body and move it to another cemetery in the area.

-

-

Related topics:PortadownArmagh

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.