Cemeteries reopen in Northern Ireland

Cemeteries have reopened in Northern Ireland in one of the first significantadjustments to lockdown rules.

Council-run graveyards were closed last month as part of the coronavirus lockdown, however there had been mounting calls to reopen them.

Bereaved relatives highlighted the mental anguish of being prevented from visiting the graves of loved ones.

Previously, the DUP and UUP had supported reopening cemeteries.

First Minister Arlene Foster said it was about "balancing public healthconcerns with the basic human need to visit a loved one's grave."

Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party had opposed it, amid concerns about the potential health impacts of loosening one of the lockdown measures.

The executive discussed the matter further on Friday night and agreed to reopen the cemeteries.

Social distancing measures will remain in place at cemeteries in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.