A funeral service and burial which spanned two counties went ahead on Tuesday, February 23, with a large police presence watching on to make sure Covid restrictions weren’t breached.
Police mounted the operation after receiving reports that hundreds might try to attend the traveller funeral. Under the coronavirus laws, a maximum of 30 people are permitted to attend a funeral service.
Police weren’t taking any chances and so at first light this morning police began taking up positions around St Helen’s Catholic Church in The Harebreaks Watford, Herts Police vehicles, were parked up in side streets around the church.
The funeral was for 72 year old woman.
A lone Irish piper stood outside the church playing as her family arrived for the service.
They then entered the church for the hour long service, before the hearse with the coffin and the funeral party then then travelled from Watford into Bedfordshire and the Dunstable Cemetrery in West Street for the burial.
Once more a large police presence was in the area to make sure only 30 mourners including close family were at the graveside.
Ahead of the funeral residents living near to St Helen’s had been warned to expect an increased police presence in the area Hertfordshire Constabulary said it had been liaising with family members, funeral directors, church, local authority and other agencies ahead of the funeral.
The coffin was transferred to a glass carriage pulled by four horses with black that led 30 mourners into the cemetery at Dunstable.
One of the limousines had the word MUMMY written in blue and white flowers. The street leading to the cemetery was lined with police and community support officers along with councils staff.
