Overcrowding at Dublin’s main mortuary risks significant delays to funerals that will only add to families’ “grief and trauma”, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors has said. 

So far this year, the Whitehall mortuary has carried out some 500 autopsies, despite an annual capacity of just 400. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Association of Funeral Directors President Fintan Cooney described the figures as “worrying alright”. 

“The mortuary in Whitehall in Dublin was originally opened, as I understand it, as a temporary measure when a facility that was planned for Marino didn't go ahead,” he said. 

“So, I think thus far in six months, they're more than double over the capacity.” 

A coffin in a church. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Cooney praised staff at Dublin City Mortuary as “doing an excellent job” but described their working conditions as “less than ideal”. 

However, he added that this inevitably results in delays to autopsies, which only makes what is usually a “very difficult situation” for families worse.  

“If somebody has to undergo an autopsy at Dublin City Mortuary, it's probably because the death has occurred in sudden, unexpected or possibly tragic circumstances,” he explained. 

“To have then a significant delay in the release of that person into the care of the funeral director, so the family can have a funeral, is going to just add further to their already significant grief and trauma.” 

Mr Cooney continued that while the delays are not significant at present, a new mortuary needs to be built before the situation deteriorates. 

“This matter was raised a couple of years ago and at that time when we were calling for action to be taken, we were experiencing delays of 10 days up to two weeks in getting somebody released from the mortuary,” he said. 

“Now, that has improved because the staff are doing a wonderful job there and I think they're working additional hours and so on.

“A proper mortuary facility, as was always planned for the Dublin area, needs to be moved forward and constructed and put into operation.” 

Mr Cooney added that it is “really frustrating” that the issue was raised by the industry several years ago and it “wouldn't appear that any action has been taken in the meantime”.

Main image: A mourner holds a rose next to a coffin. Picture by: Alamy.com.