COUNCIL workers have been accused of smashing gravestones in a so-called safety drive.

Onlookers told how they were “horrified” after witnessing council staff uprooting at least 20 stones at the Necropolis, with several smashing in to pieces.

It is understood the work is part of a review of graveyards following the death of Ciaran Williamson at the Craigton cemetery earlier this year.

Leo Federici, who walks his dog at the site daily, said he has seen council staff “shoving over” large headstones, and was horrified at the extent of the damage caused.

He said: “This is a place of rest, a sacred ground. It’s not a demolition site.

“I am disgusted that they have not gone about this in a professional way.

“There’s no way they have been using special equipment, you can see the marks where they have been crow-barred out.

“You can see in the earth where they have tumbled down the slope and you can see the shattered stones as well.

“It’s awful…I don’t know if there are any living family members of these people around but if there are they would be devastated.

His comments were backed up by another local, who is at the Necropolis every day.

He also confirmed he had seen “four or five” council staff uprooting“around 20 headstones, and at least four of them smashed.”

He added: “It’s disgraceful, disrespectful. They talk about vandalism in there but this is the council’s own vandalism.”

“There’s no regard for the headstones at all, they are shoving them over face down.

“I saw them doing it myself...They have the council clothes on, and a council vehicle.

“They seem to be just going up to random headstones and shoving them over.

“I’ve seen them break. Some of them have rolled down the hill on the banks.

A council spokeswoman said: “Headstone checks are being done in the interests of health and safety.

"The checks are carried out to a set procedure and in some cases, where there is imminent risk, the staff will have to lay down headstones. "The procedure follows recognised national guidance and no employee is instructed to follow anything but that procedure.

"Some stones, given their age and material, do have parts which break off however this is not done in a malicious or uncaring manner, with all due care and attention taken during the process.”