Vol. 448 No. 7
16 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if she will assist the National Graves Association with their proposal to re-inter the remains of nine of the ten executed Volunteers (details supplied) from the yard in Mountjoy Jail to the republican plot in Glasnevin Cemetery as their surviving family members are most anxious that the re-interring takes place. [1327/95]
In February 1994 an application by the National Graves Association for the removal of the remains of ten volunteers buried in the grounds of Mountjoy Prison for re-interment in the republican plot in Glasnevin Cemetery was received from the Minister for the Environment. This request was considered by my predecessor who agreed to the proposal subject to the observance of the normal procedures in these matters. It was clearly understood by this that the permission of all of the next of kin would be an essential prerequisite. When it emerged shortly afterwards that one of the families concerned had not, in fact, consented, and were not prepared to consent, to disturbing the plot, the then Minister had no option but to withdraw her agreement.
The layout of the plot today following the erection of a monument on the site in 1961 does not correspond exactly with the drawing which accompanied the application to the Minister for the Environment. The precise location of the various remains within the plot is, therefore, uncertain. The remains of the volunteer whose family have withheld their permission were interred in the same location as five others on the same day in March 1921 and in these circumstances it is clear that no exhumation of the remains could be attempted without risking an infringement of the clearly stated wishes of one of the families concerned.
In all the circumstances I regret that I cannot agree to the request from the National Graves Association.
I am sure it will be clear to the Deputy that there is no objection, in principle, to the proposal put forward by the National Graves Association. There is, however, the competing principle that a grave should not be disturbed — and we should not run the risk of disturbing remains — against the wishes of surviving relatives. If there is a proposal which would effectively meet the concerns of the family who are against the disturbance of remains, I will be glad to listen to it.
