How dificult is it not to fall into an open grave?

Sleeper12

When at a cemetery I expect to see uneven ground & even holes in the ground. While at funerals I don't expect signs saying "BEWARE hole in the ground". I know that there is a bloody big hole in the ground because I saw them lower aunt Kitty into it less than 5 minutes ago. I even flung a hand full of muck at her coffin as a good old sendoff.


They actually settled this case with this woman. The mind boggles



https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mourner-who-fell-into-grave-settles-claim-for-damages-39015911.html

CardBordWindow

I've seen post-funeral scenes reminiscent of the Walking Dead. People climbing over graves, knocking people out of the way just to shake the hand of the bereaved.
Utter Chaos!

But yeah, surely they would know where the grave where the person has just been dropped into

MintyMagnum

I'd be raging if it was my loved one in the grave & this one came crashing into it & worse made a big court case out of it.

Gretas Gonna Get Ya!

Was there much point fishing her back out of the grave?

Looks like she might have to go back in pretty soon anyway! :pac:

Lollipops23

How exactly were the gravediggers meant to protect her? They'd literally JUST put the coffin in the hole!

Jesus I'd be livid with her if it was my loved one she fell in on top of.

lawred2

Lollipops23 wrote: »

How exactly were the gravediggers meant to protect her? They'd literally JUST put the coffin in the hole!

Jesus I'd be livid with her if it was my loved one she fell in on top of.

well I mean accidents do happen... I doubt she went along looking to fall into the hole.. you'd be livid with an elderly lady for having an accident?

what I don't understand is why an accident has to mean someone is held responsible or liable? Surely in some cases it's no one's fault.

Alun

What about the reference to 10 days in hospital for some minor soft tissue injuries?????

treascon

what I don't understand is why an accident has to mean someone is held responsible or liable? Surely in some cases it's no one's fault.[/QUOTE]

Not in Ireland it seems! It's always some else's fault where you're nearly always guaranteed a payout - that's the problem!

Michelinextra.

Gretas Gonna Get Ya! wrote: »

Was there much point fishing her back out of the grave?

Looks like she might have to go back in pretty soon anyway! :pac:

Somebody else would sue if they left her in there

gerrybbadd

"Her cheeks were also sore and she had been struck in the face by her handbag as she fell."

I wonder was it the arse cheeks she was complaining of?

Some sites also reported that the accident had an impact on her ability to work. It looks like her best days were far behind her long before the accident

pawdee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqWhkPbU4Ho

Leg End Reject

This will start new health and safety nonsense, all mourners will soon have to stand behind barricades a safe distance from the open grave.

pawdee

Sleeper12 wrote: »

When at a cemetery I expect to see uneven ground & even holes in the ground. While at funerals I don't expect signs saying "BEWARE hole in the ground". I know that there is a bloody big hole in the ground because I saw them lower aunt Kitty into it less than 5 minutes ago. I even flung a hand full of muck at her coffin as a good old sendoff.


They actually settled this case with this woman. The mind boggles



https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mourner-who-fell-into-grave-settles-claim-for-damages-39015911.html

Did you attend this funeral? Please have some respect for God's sake. I heard that she had a fit of coffin (not helped by tomb much poitín at the wake the previous evening) and lost her footing. This is all HEARSE-ay of course not having been there myself. It's not nice to make fun of such a grave situation. My feeling is that she sued more out of embarrassment than anything else. Mortified? I'd say she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

Ok, I'll put a lid on it.

Deebles McBeebles

Leg End Reject wrote: »

This will start new health and safety nonsense, all mourners will soon have to stand behind barricades a safe distance from the open grave.

Might be for the best. Some folks can't even use stairs properly.

B.A._Baracus

Sleeper12 wrote: »

... They actually settled this case with this woman. The mind boggles

https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mourner-who-fell-into-grave-settles-claim-for-damages-39015911.html

She either:
1, Saw the hole and thought, hang on I can earn a few quid from this.
or
2, Stupid wrench fell because of her own stupid fault but rather than take personal responsibility she'd blame someone else then thought... hang on, I can earn a few quid from this.

It's sad to say but people are absolute fu*king as*holes in this world.

Insect Overlord

Looks like someone...

:cool:

...made a grave mistake.

freshpopcorn

I've heard of it happen.
Generally the person is a bit of a fool and are embarrassed about what they've done.

sbsquarepants

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

She either:
1, Saw the hole and thought, hang on I can earn a few quid from this.
or
2, Stupid wrench fell because of her own stupid fault but rather than take personal responsibility she'd blame someone else then thought... hang on, I can earn a few quid from this.

.

Or

3, She was just checking it out in the knowledge that she's going to be "living" in one fairly soon.:D

Leg End Reject

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I've heard of it happen.
Generally the person is a bit of a fool and are embarrassed about what they've done.

I'd die of embarrassment (no pun intended) and wouldn't want any more attention drawn to it.

B.A._Baracus

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Or

3, She was just checking it out in the knowledge that she's going to be "living" in one fairly soon.:D

:pac:

Gas, is'nt it tho?
Looking at her you'd take her for the regular-church going old lady. Probably someone you'd see really friendly in a Lidl as they chat to the cashier :pac:

NeinNeinNein

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

:pac:

Gas, is'nt it tho?
Looking at her you'd take her for the regular-church going old lady. Probably someone you'd see really friendly in a Lidl as they chat to the cashier :pac:

Appearances can be so deceptive. Would say she's the sort to ask you to take something off the top shelf for her in Lidl, then tickle you under the arms while you stretch up.

ChikiChiki

Seen this happen a lad before at a family funeral when he tried to take a short cut and stepped on the green tarpaulin thingy they put over it. I got a good chuckle out of it and I know my uncle would have as well:pac:

HBC08

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

She either:
1, Saw the hole and thought, hang on I can earn a few quid from this.
or
2, Stupid wrench fell because of her own stupid fault but rather than take personal responsibility she'd blame someone else then thought... hang on, I can earn a few quid from this.

It's sad to say but people are absolute fu*king as*holes in this world.

If the law and legal system facilitates such arseholery then we cant be surprised.
This sh1te dorsnt happen in most countries and its not because they're sounder than us

Michelinextra.

I'd say it happens on TV more often than reality

I'm sure I've seen it a few times

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTtLjRatfMI

Itssoeasy

lawred2 wrote: »

well I mean accidents do happen... I doubt she went along looking to fall into the hole.. you'd be livid with an elderly lady for having an accident?

what I don't understand is why an accident has to mean someone is held responsible or liable? Surely in some cases it's no one's fault.

Sure someone has to be blamed for things nowadays. People can’t seem to take responsibility for things they do(even unintentionally) personal responsibility is a foreign concept.

Pronto63

Sorry folks but am I the only one that had a laugh out loud moment reading this?

It’s like a scene from a sitcom.

Which fictional character would you like to see this happen to or has it actually happened to?

My suggestions:

Victor Meldrew and Mrs Bouquet

alchemist33

"It was claimed that Ms Walsh was extremely emotionally upset and embarrassed by the incident."


Not embarrassed enough judging by this claim!

Sleeper12

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I'd die of embarrassment (no pun intended) and wouldn't want any more attention drawn to it.

I'd have no interest in looking for money. To me the bragging rights of falling in a grave would be priceless. People woluld talk & laugh about it at my own funeral. They'd laugh about it long after I'm gone. That to me is priceless

Mad_maxx

Sleeper12 wrote: »

When at a cemetery I expect to see uneven ground & even holes in the ground. While at funerals I don't expect signs saying "BEWARE hole in the ground". I know that there is a bloody big hole in the ground because I saw them lower aunt Kitty into it less than 5 minutes ago. I even flung a hand full of muck at her coffin as a good old sendoff.


They actually settled this case with this woman. The mind boggles



https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mourner-who-fell-into-grave-settles-claim-for-damages-39015911.html

ah yeah , looks like the type who would fall into a grave

"It was claimed that Ms Walsh was extremely emotionally upset and embarrassed by the incident."


She ought to be more embarrassed by taking this to court.

CrankyHaus

HBC08 wrote: »

If the law and legal system facilitates such arseholery then we cant be surprised.
This sh1te dorsnt happen in most countries and its not because they're sounder than us

This is the thing. The legal system incentivises this sort of behaviour. Gradually it becomes more and more normal and the social taboo is relaxed. Eventually you reach the point where not committing fraud or taking unreasonable claims has to be a deliberate decision that comes at a significant opportunity cost. In short it corrupts the entire society.

colm_mcm

Whilst we probably all agree that the compo culture has gotten out of hand, you’d have to look at the likes of the undertakers like Allied funeral services who have a large chunk of the market, and have considerable assets. These are proper businesses and are organizing multiple funerals per day.
If this was any other business that oversee a big hole in the ground, it would be a given that they mitigate the risk of someone falling in.
I’m not suggesting there be big neon signs, or the requirement for mourners to watch an instructional video - but at least some organization with regards to where people stand etc.

looksee

colm_mcm wrote: »

Whilst we probably all agree that the compo culture has gotten out of hand, you’d have to look at the likes of the undertakers like Allied funeral services who have a large chunk of the market, and have considerable assets. These are proper businesses and are organizing multiple funerals per day.
If this was any other business that oversee a big hole in the ground, it would be a given that they mitigate the risk of someone falling in.
I’m not suggesting there be big neon signs, or the requirement for mourners to watch an instructional video - but at least some organization with regards to where people stand etc.

Or better yet, just have the immediate family go to the graveyard - there is really no need for the milling throngs that swarm all over graves then have everyone standing out in the rain while the whole lot shakes hands with the mourners. Its almost a competition to be standing as close as possible to the family, and nowhere is sacrosanct in the scramble to be the first to shake the hand of the chief mourner.

Meanwhile, any graveyard is a minefield of graves, kerbstones, bocketty wet bits, the heap of soil from the grave and the grave itself. If you are likely to be so overwhelmed by the need to commiserate with the family that you can't see where you are putting your feet, don't go to the burial.

biko

It was claimed that Ms Walsh was extremely .... embarrassed by the incident

This is probably why she sued.

she had been struck in the face by her handbag as she fell.

I can picture it now

Bobblehats

Deleted User wrote: »

"It was claimed that Ms Walsh was extremely emotionally upset and embarrassed by the incident."


She ought to be more embarrassed by taking this to court.

That’s what is is one of those embarrassment cases and the embarrassment was huge I imagine, huge. Paltry payout in fairness

xzanti

Sleeper12 wrote: »

When at a cemetery I expect to see uneven ground & even holes in the ground. While at funerals I don't expect signs saying "BEWARE hole in the ground". I know that there is a bloody big hole in the ground because I saw them lower aunt Kitty into it less than 5 minutes ago. I even flung a hand full of muck at her coffin as a good old sendoff.
[/URL]

Aunt Kitty :pac:

Dr Strange

Maybe she saw an opportunity and did an Uncle Albert?

Bobblehats

xzanti wrote: »

Aunt Kitty :pac:

She effectively dipped into the kitty. Into the coffers

Irishphotodesk

She was very camera shy when attending court too ... Obviously still embarrassed by the event (she was hiding behind a younger man - I'm guessing a son, possibly an heir)

Ps. It was me that took the pic for the papers.

In general when someone is camera shy coming in.... They know the media will be interested in their story, had a guy a few days ago use a surgical mask to hide his face - took it off after he went through security, only problem for him was that he was the first person I photographed wearing a mask in Ireland and his pic was published
... So his effort to hide from the cameras actually caused him to get published, if he had just walked in instead of trying to cover up.... He would not have been published lol

Seamai

I remember being at a funeral about 25 years ago, I was quite far from the grave and couldn't see anything when in the middle of the prayers there was a furore at the graveside. I thought that maybe someone was overcome with grief and had collapsed but no, word filtered back that some nosey old biddy of a neighbour who had to be in the thick of it fell into the grave when the side gave way. I'm sure it was distressing for the family but I couldn't help seeing the funny side to it.

stevedublin

It bad luck to fall into an open grave, similar to walking under a ladder.

Be right back

[Deleted User] wrote: »

"It was claimed that Ms Walsh was extremely emotionally upset and embarrassed by the incident."


She ought to be more embarrassed by taking this to court.

And having her picture in the paper. Not too embarrassed to go to court though.

glynf

When I was a kid, I used to walk my grand-aunts dog. Part of the route was a shortcut through a graveyard. He was well behaved-for a spaniel, so i used to let him off the lead. One late summers evening I was walking him through the grave yard. It was getting dark, so lots of shadows on the ground.



The dog was sniffing around a freshly dug grave, it had two scaffolding planks and a sheet of wood covered in green felt or similar covering the hole. Of course the damn dog slipped in between the wood planks and into the grave. No choice but to move the cover and jump in to get him out. It had rained heavily that day, so by the time I was finished struggling with the little bollix, I was covered in mud, including my face.


I pushed the dog out first, and pulled myself up using one of the planks. I was somewhere between annoyed and getting a bit anxious-it was a struggle getting out of there-so I was swearing like a good thing, calling the dog all sorts.


When I got out there was an elderly couple standing there staring at me, I'll never forget the look on their faces...


TL;DR graves are a bastard to get out of

Gloomtastic!

glynf wrote: »

When I was a kid, I used to walk my grand-aunts dog. Part of the route was a shortcut through a graveyard. He was well behaved-for a spaniel, so i used to let him off the lead. One late summers evening I was walking him through the grave yard. It was getting dark, so lots of shadows on the ground.



The dog was sniffing around a freshly dug grave, it had two scaffolding planks and a sheet of wood covered in green felt or similar covering the hole. Of course the damn dog slipped in between the wood planks and into the grave. No choice but to move the cover and jump in to get him out. It had rained heavily that day, so by the time I was finished struggling with the little bollix, I was covered in mud, including my face.


I pushed the dog out first, and pulled myself up using one of the planks. I was somewhere between annoyed and getting a bit anxious-it was a struggle getting out of there-so I was swearing like a good thing, calling the dog all sorts.


When I got out there was an elderly couple standing there staring at me, I'll never forget the look on their faces...


TL;DR graves are a bastard to get out of

Great story even if it’s made up!

jmreire

Grave diggers insurance just gone through the roof......will now be much more expensive to die and be buried....

BattleCorp

Leg End Reject wrote: »

This will start new health and safety nonsense, all mourners will soon have to stand behind barricades a safe distance from the open grave.

To be honest, I find it strange that you don't realise that if there were proper health and safety rules in the graveyard, this incident wouldn't have happened.

You can't have an unprotected opening on a building site so why is it acceptable in a graveyard?

I wouldn't be too hard on the woman. She was at a funeral, probably reasonably distressed, so mightn't have realised where she was walking.

The grave was covered with the green carpet thing and the lady didn't realise that she'd go into the grave if she stood on it.

Gretas Gonna Get Ya!

I wonder did she go in before or after the coffin?

If she went in beforehand, she could just wait until they started lowering the coffin down... then shout "Hey, be careful... you could kill someone with that thing!"

the purple tin

'She also claimed the open grave created a trap for her.' :pac:
You'd think she was a bleedin toddler. If that happened to me I'd keep me gob shut about it.

Raconteuse

This keeps just reminding me of the saddest and one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever:

https://youtu.be/I8BZ5cNm-XQ

jaxxx

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Great story even if it’s made up!

If this was on the Graham Norton Show, I'd be pulling the leaver though