‘You see the heartbreak on people’s faces’, says Derry widow Etta D’Arcy as she leads protest to be allowed into city cemetery

Etta D’Arcy, who lost her husband Hugh last August, led a protest against the restrictions outside the City Cemetery yesterday.

She was joined by around 30 others in a dignified demonstration in spring sunshine that belied the sombre mood.

Mrs. D’Arcy told the ‘Journal’ she had been visiting her late husband’s grave every day since he was interred at the Creggan facility eight months ago. However, the decision to close cemeteries last month to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 illness ended what was, she said, her ‘only comfort.’

“My husband died last August and I go up to the cemetery every day. It’s my comfort,” said Mrs. D’Arcy.

She said this sentiment was shared by all of those who turned out in solidarity yesterday. During the demonstration, protestors lined the roadside outside the cemetery while observing social distancing restrictions.

A marked PSNI patrol car made a number of passes during the brief picket, which took place from 11 to 11.15 a.m.

Mrs. D’Arcy pleaded with the authorities to lift the ban.

“If they can close the gate they can open it. I want up to see my husband. That’s my only comfort and all the people who are here, it is their comfort. I know exactly how they feel because we are all in the same boat,” she said.

Mrs. D’Arcy’s daughter Michelle D’Arcy Burns briefly addressed the demonstration and said further protests would be called if the restrictions were not eased.

She said: “I hope everyone will come and support our loved ones again.”

A spokesperson for the Council said cemeteries remain closed in compliance with the NI government instruction to all Councils to close all cemeteries and burial grounds except for funerals. The Council said the Coronavirus legislation (The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restriction) Regulations (NI) 2020 were clear and required that ‘a person who is responsible for a crematorium or burial ground must ensure that, during the emergency period, the crematorium or burial ground is closed to members of the public, except for burials’.

But Mrs. D’Arcy said: “If they have no compassion for people like this then what do you do? You have to call protests like this. If they don’t open that cemetery I’m continuing. You see the heartbreak on people’s faces. Who are they to deny us this?”

The Council said: “We understand how difficult this is for the people but the decision to reopen is not Council’s to make and we would urge the public to please adhere to the advice to Stay at Home and help to prevent the spread of this virus.”

Should the regulations change, Council will respond accordingly, they said.