Mayo County Council will issue an apology to a family who received a letter in relation to a burial plot fee two days after their 28-year-old son had been buried.
Cllr Mark Duffy raised the issue after he was written to by the family about receiving the letter from the council. Outlining the situation, Cllr Duffy told the September meeting of the council that the family had requested a triple burial plot at a cost of €1,300 and a letter asking for that bill to be executed in full was posted to the family on Friday, August 6, with the deceased being laid to rest on Saturday, August 7 and the family receiving the letter on Monday, August 9.
Cllr Duffy asked that all such matters in future should be sent to the undertakers, and not to the bereaved families, saying that the letter was 'completely insensitive'. He went on to say the family was hurt by the letter and asked for it to be discussed at the council meeting, so that no other family would see it happen to them.
He was supported by a number of his fellow councillors on the situation and a call was made for the council to phone the family and apologise to them. Director of Services for the council, John Condon, said that while he was not aware of the letter which was sent, he would look into the matter and he would phone the family also, as suggested at the meeting.
