Funeral parking nightmare halted by Advertiser’s last minute intervention
Colette Mahoney outside Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church. - Credit: Archant
The grieving family of a woman who lived in the East End for more than 70 years have been able to pay her their last respects – thanks to a last minute intervention by the Advertiser.
The funeral at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church. - Credit: Archant
Grief-stricken daughter Colette Mahoney was shocked to discover that loved ones hoping to attend the funeral of her mother Kathleen Manly would risk receiving parking tickets from Tower Hamlets Council, who would not provide visitors’ permits in time.
She feared that mourners of her late mother, who passed away aged 87, travelling from Brighton and Essex would be unable to attend Friday’s service at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bethnal Green
She made three trips to the borough from her home in Essex, prompting her to accuse the council of making “one of the worst experiences of my life far more traumatic than is humanly necessary”.
“They have made it so unbelievably hard. I don’t want anyone else to go through this”, she added.
But a last minute call from the Advertiser made hours before the funeral prompted the Town Hall to email the permits to Mrs Mahoney.
Thanking the newspaper, she said: “Common sense has now prevailed. This seemed like the perfect ending. She spent all of her grown up life and married life in the East End.”
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The problem faced by Mrs Mahoney was common, according to Priest at Our Lady of the Assumption, Father Tom O’Brien, who said the council could do more to help in such situations.
“The council tries to force people to come by public transport”, he said.
“What they could do is give churches something like a funeral parking permit permanently.”
A Town Hall spokesperson said waivers were offered for funerals, but did not comment on the problem experience by Mrs Mahoney of providing them by post.
