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A family appealing against the decision that an Irish phrase on a headstone in an English cemetery must be translated into English must have their legal costs covered.
The relatives of Margaret Keane (73), born in Ireland and died in July 2018, wanted to inscribe the words “In ar gcroíthe go deo” (“In our hearts forever”) on the headstone of her grave in the cemetery of St Giles at Exhall. , Coventry.
Stephen Eyre QC, an ecclesiastical court judge in the Church of England, ruled that a translation of the inscription should also be included, as there was a risk that it might otherwise be seen as “a political statement.”
Ms Keane’s family appealed the decision but has faced a legal bill worth thousands of pounds.
But in a statement Wednesday, the family said the Church of England had agreed to pay their costs.
“After bearing the agonizing burden of facing substantial costs, Margaret Keane’s family was greatly relieved to receive confirmation last week from the Church of England that sources within the church will pay the family’s court costs in respect of his ongoing appeal to overturn the decision made by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Coventry, Stephen Eyre, to reject an Irish-only inscription on his mother’s grave, “the statement said.
“Although the legal team of the family acts free of charge, the ecclesiastical court (which is independent from the Church of England) is entitled to collect the costs. This has been an immense burden to bear for a long period of time. To date, the family has paid a total of £ 2,085.60 in court costs (with £ 42 and £ 129 reimbursed to date).
“The family’s initial request to Arches Court in Canterbury (where the appeal will be heard) for the costs to be waived was initially denied.”
The statement said the family renewed that application in August 2020, upon receiving an additional £ 1,054 invoice from the court. It has now been confirmed that the family will be reimbursed the remaining £ 1,914.60 they have paid to the court to date.
It has also been confirmed that the family will receive assistance from sources within the church to cover their future court costs, the statement concluded.
In June, in an open letter to the Church of England Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, who has jurisdiction over the cemetery, the Bishop of Cashel, Ossory and Ferns Michael Burrows said he would make sure the family knew their legal rights.
In his letter, Bishop Burrows noted that a key aspect of the peace process had been “to make clear that the Irish language and culture can have a legitimate place in the wealth of British politics.”
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