BY MARK McKELVEY

NINE unmarked graves have been discovered in the grounds of the old General Hospital site in Woodside Avenue, Omagh during the construction of a play area.

It is believed the graves date back to the 1830s when this location was used as a fever hospital during the famine.

Following this discovery by a Queen's University archaeological fieldwork team, who were overseeing the work on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service, construction of the play area immediately halted, with the PSNI being called in to rule out the possibility that the graves were modern.

EXCAVATED

One grave was excavated and archaeologists found a child's coffin. It was then determined that the graves dated back to the early 19th century. The coffin was then reburied and the building of the play area continued on top of this burial site.

A police spokesperson confirmed the discovery, stating, "The graves were discovered by workmen who were constructing an outdoor play area. One of the graves was excavated finding a coffin with the remains of a child. The incident occurred near a burial ground that was previously known to exist.

"The remains were re-interred there and work to construct the play area continued on that site. It is believed this happened two to three months ago."

Dr Colm Donnelly, director of Queen's Archaeological Department said, "During the process of top soil being stripped, we immediately then saw these grave cuts. As soon as we saw this the police were called."

He added, "The excavated grave was found to contain a coffin associated with a child. It was then reburied, and all the locations of all the grave cuts were recorded – no coffins were removed.

"I would imagine these bodies were probably 18th or 19th century, associated with the graveyard of the fever hospital and workhouse, probably 150 to 200 years old."

Local historian, Arthur Quinn, who has extensive knowledge of the workhouses in this area of Omagh, feels these bodies date back to the famine.

He said, "These graves are from the famine years around 1830's when a lot of children did die in the workhouse. Nine graves like this doesn't seem an awful lot. It was probably a little cemetery attached to the fever hospital. They were dying in such great numbers at this time that there were mass graves."

Mr Quinn continued to express his dismay that the area was not excavated further, stating, "When you hear of graves such as this being discovered, you wonder does the Department of the Environment not listen or do the builders just go ahead and build over it without further excavations.

"You would think that when the archaeology department in Queen's knew of this, they would have researched further."

A spokesperson for the Environment and Heritage Service, however, revealed that it is the protocol in these circumstances to minimise disruption and carry on construction on that site.

The spokesperson said, "Where a cemetery, or indeed any other site of archaeological interest, is identified, the accepted protocol is to minimise disturbance. As such, sealing the level with geotextile and a layer of soil, sand or gravel on top of which development can continue would be the preferred course of action."

Omagh town Cllr Paddy McGowan has reacted furiously to this decision, describing it as 'sacrilegious' to build over a burial site in this manner.

SHAMEFUL

"As far as I am concerned this is shameful and sacrilegious as these were Christians who were buried there," declared Cllr McGowan. "Over the years since the famine when it was a workhouse, many graves were there and it is despicable that has happened.

"About six years back I was assured by the Western Health and Social Services Board that there would be no development on this particular site. They said they would put up a plaque stating this area would be preserved because of the graves there, but that has never been done.

"Is there no respect any longer for those poor unfortunate people who died in poor circumstances all those years ago. It should have been made public at the time and not covered up and I would say, those involved in this should apologise for what they have done."