Should our council profit from the death of a child?

PRESSURE is mounting on Antrim and Newtownabbey to follow in the footsteps of compassionate councils by waiving burial costs for children.

Momentum has been building since a regional scheme to ease the burden on parents was rolled out in England in March.

With Stormont in mothballs, the prospects of a similar Children’s Funeral Fund here remain in limbo - but in recent weeks a growing number of local authorities have grasped the nettle and gone it alone.

Mid and East Antrim, Newry Mourne and Down Councils this week joined Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and Belfast City Council by offering significant reductions to families coming to terms with the loss of a child.

“We can resolve this until the introduction of a regional initiative,” said former Antrim councillor Stephen Nicholl, who proposed the sympathetic change of heart up the A26 in his new base in Ballymena.

But to date the silence from Antrim and Newtownabbey has been deafening.

Currently there is no charge for the burial of infantile remains or stillborn babies for residents - though people who have not lived in the area for at least seven years do have to pay.

Similarly, there is no charge if a child’s life is cut tragically short - up to a point at least.

And that point is 12 months. If a baby passes away at 10 months, the council will take a sensitive view and waive burial costs.

However, if the youngster lives until they are 15 months, then grieving parents will be asked to pick up the tab.

By contrast, a family going through the same turmoil in Ballymena will now get special reductions following the loss of any child under the age of 18.

The situation was no better before the merger with Newtownabbey - indeed it was significantly worse.

For while the legacy council cut new ground in how it dealt with foetal remains - working with the Trust to create a Garden of Remembrance - it still expected local people to pay.

As recently as 2013, the burial of remains that died less than 24 weeks into the pregnancy cost £70.

The families of stillborn babies or a child under the age of one would be billed for 50 per cent of the going rate for a burial.

But the Antrim Guardian can reveal this week that moves are finally afoot to help local families in their darkest hour.

A spokesperson has confirmed that discussions about the way forward are at an advanced stage.

“Currently there is no fee for residents for the burial of children up to 12 months and 50 per cent of the fee is charged for non-residents,” she said.

“This policy is under review and a report relating to the cost of child burials is due to be made at the May council meeting.”

There is also mounting speculation that it may coincide with a Notice of Motion designed to lay the charges to rest once and for all.

It remains to be seen, however, just how far civic leaders are prepared to go.

Will they raise the age limit to 18 like in Mid and East Antrim? Will they waive the cost of opening a grave - which currently stands at £280 in Antrim for residents and £1,300 for non-residents - like Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon have done?

“Fortunately most people never have to endure the loss of a child, so the majority probably never realised that the council expected payment for this sort of service,” said a Council insider.

“Now they do, and they don’t like it. With other councils dealing with this issue head on, we have to do the right thing and follow suit. It probably should have been addressed years ago.”