Following a motion by DUP councillor John Smyth, which had been amended slightly by Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther, councillors agreed to the review last Thursday.

Cllr. Smyth’s original motion had called for a review of the current rules and regulations in relation to Belmont Cemetery “specifically in respect to surrounds” but Cllr. Lawther had asked that the motion be of a more general nature to take in a variety of other aspects.

Asking that the words “specifically in respect to surrounds” be removed from the motion, Cllr. Lawther said: “There are other issues surrounding graves that we need to look at; for example who is eligible to buy graves in the Antrim Borough Council area.”

Cllr. Lawther’s amendment was seconded by Cllr. Oran Keenan, with Cllr. Smyth accepting the amendment.

Cllr. Smyth said he hoped things had “come along way” since his original proposal last September.

At the time, he had proposed to remove the current bye-law with the proviso that if a person wishes to have a surround or acts of remembrance to their loved ones they may do so.

His motion was deferred until the outcome of a judicial review into the council’s decision to enforce the existing bye-law and to remove items from the lawn cemetery. A High Court ruling in February favoured Antrim Borough Council and backed Belmont remaining a lawn cemetery.

Following the judicial review, Cllr. Smyth withdrew his motion and said he would consider his options.

Regarding his updated motion, Cllr. Smyth said a “sensible solution” was needed for a “very emotiev problem”.

“There is no victory for the council; there is a willingness on both sides for a resolution to satisfy everyone,” he said.

He added: “We have to give families time to grieve.”

The council’s decision to carry out a review was welcomed by several members of the public who had attended the meeting.

While Councillor Adrian Watson - who was chairing the meeting - summed out what would be happening, a cheer went up when he said there would be no further action.

He was quick to add “at this stage” to clarify the council’s position.

“This council will go away now and look at every aspect and look at everything that’s been up in the air,” Cllr. Watson said.

He added: “The council has agreed to do a review of the current rules and regulations in relation to Belmont; this means everything including the selling of graves to people outside the borough.”

Speaking directly to the public, Cllr. Watson said: “There will be no need to camp out overnight; it’s not necessary for that.. there’s no action for now.

“I assure you we will keep you abreast of any developments as they happen.”

In a statement following the meeting, a spokesperson for Antrim council, said: “Antrim Borough Council agreed at its meeting on Thursday, May 8 to ‘review the current rules and regulations in relation to Belmont Cemetery’.