Mid and East Antrim Council has stepped up patrols at Larne Memorial Gardens and Greenland Cemetery after complaints of dog fouling, with offenders warned they could face a court fine of £2, 500. The council said increased monitoring follows complaints that some individuals are failing to clean up after their dogs. Local veterans and councillors are urging stronger enforcement and respect for these memorial sites.
Larne: patrols, penalties and the trigger for action
Council statements confirm targeted action at Larne Memorial Gardens and Greenland Cemetery in Craigyhill, where patrols and monitoring have been increased following recent complaints. The fixed penalty for dog fouling is £200 per offence, and failure to pay can result in a maximum court fine of £2, 500. The council urged that “All dog owners and walkers must act responsibly and respectfully when out in our communities, ” adding that “These are places where people come to pay their respects and remember loved ones and the fallen. ” It described the behaviour as “unacceptable” when individuals fail to clean up after their dogs.
Immediate reactions from veterans and elected officials
Norman Gray, chair of the Larne branch of the Regimental Association of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC, highlighted an increase in dog fouling at Larne Memorial Gardens where the organisation has a memorial stone, and said dogs had been allowed to “run loose” and that he had discovered dog foul on a relative’s grave. He said: “I am not against dogs but people who do not have the decency to pick up after their dogs. ” In a letter to the council’s interim chief executive Valerie Watts, he wrote: “As you will appreciate, both locations are places of reflection and remembrance, and such behaviour is deeply disrespectful to the families who visit, as well as to the memories of those commemorated there. “
Gregg McKeen, Larne Lough DUP Councillor, said: “These are places of memory, dignity, and reflection, and it is completely unacceptable that they are being disrespected in this way. Dog owners have a clear responsibility to clean up after their pets, there is no excuse. ” He added: “I am calling on the council to increase its presence and enforcement in these sensitive areas. With no fixed penalties issued in Larne last year, it’s clear that more proactive action is needed. Increased patrols and visible enforcement would help deter irresponsible behaviour. My message to dog owners is simple: show respect for your community, for these sacred places, and for those who visit them. “
Veterans’ Champion Carrickfergus Castle DUP Alderman Billy Ashe MBE described the situation bluntly: “Dog fouling at the cenotaph and memorials is utterly unacceptable. These are sacred spaces that honour those who served and sacrificed, and they must be treated with dignity. ” He added that the issue is persistent across the borough and pledged to continue pushing for action.
Quick context and facts
Increased patrols and monitoring have been announced specifically at Larne Memorial Gardens and Greenland Cemetery after complaints. The council has set a fixed penalty of £200 per dog fouling offence, with escalation to a court fine of up to £2, 500 for non-payment.
What’s next
Councillors and veterans are calling for visible enforcement and more proactive presence around memorials; the council has said it will continue patrols and monitoring at the named sites. With calls for action and existing penalty levels in place, the next developments to watch for are any issued fixed penalties or court prosecutions and whether enforcement levels in Larne will rise to match the concerns of families, veterans, and elected representatives.
