Grieving families of Ayr Cemetery have stood united against South Ayrshire Council after being put through hell.
Defiant relatives have called on council chiefs to hang their heads in shame after Ayrshire Live told how all 126 graves have "water issues".
In an emotional graveside show of solidarity, families came together after months of prolonged agony over a water ingress crisis.
Ten relatives met with Ayrshire Live to lift the lid on their horror ordeal as they vowed to take legal action over the debacle — which will see them having to exhume loved ones from what was supposed to be their final resting place.
Just weeks after they were told the heartbreaking news that their loved ones will have to be exhumed, furious families have called on cemetery bosses to apologise and take the blame.
They have revealed how they first found out that they would face having to re-bury loved ones via Ayrshire Live and the Ayrshire Post — with “copy and pasted” letters arriving days apart.
Suzann McKenzie, 32, who buried her son’s dad James McGarrie, 32, in 2019 said: “I’m trying to think of the right words to say, there are no words.
“I can only think of negative words to describe the council, in all honesty.
“What has happened here is criminal, it has been a form of human torture.”
Christine McGarrie, 38, James McGarrie’s sister, has been left disgusted by the handling of the crisis, she said: “They [the council] have said this is something they have never dealt with before so if they have never dealt with it before then how do we know they are dealing with it in the right way?”
Christine who also spoke on behalf of her mum Margaret said: “The way my mum sees it is, that's how life started and how life ended, everybody in the ground back together. But that’s not going to happen now.
“My dad and James are swimming in there. We are now going to spend the rest of our lives worrying that there is going to be more water in there — it will never leave us.
“When my mum goes we are left to make that decision.
“Are we going to put her in the same lair because that is her wish to be in there with her boy?”
One heartbroken relative who did not wish to be named, said: “There is only one word to describe it…hell.
“It’s been horrendous how they [South Ayrshire Council] have dealt with it, well they’ve had their chance, we are going to push this all the way now.
“We are seeking legal advice — some of us have already spoken with lawyers. Someone has to take responsibility for this, it's been an utter shambles."
Jennifer Craig, 62, spoke to Ayrshire Live after she buried her sister Joan Craig in September 2021 — when water ingress was first discovered at the extension.
Jennifer said: “You're grieving anyway, it’s not even a year since we found this out you have no idea, especially my niece she is actually broken — it was her only daughter.
“It is just crushing, it has destroyed us.”
Les Chalmers, 65, whose brother-in-law and father-in-law are buried at the cemetery extension, added: “We think about what is down there every time we visit the cemetery.
“If we had wanted a water burial we would have had a burial at sea. It’s shocking.”
A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council said: "We know that this has been an extremely distressing time for families and we are doing everything we can to carry out the works as quickly and respectfully as possible.
"We have been in regular contact with families and lair owners throughout this process and have met families on an individual basis over the past few weeks. We will continue to liaise with families and answer any questions they may have."
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