Councils vote to waive costs of child funerals

Councils in Mid and East Antrim and Newry, Mourne and Down Council have voted to waive the funeral costs of children.

The decision comes after Belfast City Council and Armagh and Banbridge and Craigavon Council became the first Northern Irish councils to waive the fees after English councils all agreed to adopt the idea in March.

The councils will now cover the £52 cost of opening a grave at council owned cemeteries.

The vote was supported unanimously at both councils who agreed to waive all costs normally associated with the provision of a grave for children under 18 years of age.

Paul Reid, mayor of Mid and East Antrim said: “Nobody should be denied the right to bury their own child in a dignified and proper way.

“Parents who have lost a child are already facing tragic circumstances and the burden and process of cost shouldn’t be another.”

There were almost 200 stillbirths in Northern Ireland in 2016.