Omagh funeral director threatened with closure

AN Omagh funeral director has found himself in a dispute with the local council over a ‘technical’ matter that has led to him fearing the loss of his business.

Brian Donnelly says he has invested £40,000 establishing Donnelly’s Funeral Directors on George’s Street in the town.

But he recently received an order from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) to cease operations by March 11 over Mr Donnelly’s failure to obtain authorisation for a change of business use, specifically converting the premises into a funeral home.

Emphasising his history of complying with regulations when setting up new businesses in Omagh, Mr Donnelly said he was ‘shocked’ when his application was rejected by the council.

He claims that there have been ‘minimum alterations’ to the building since he first opened the business in July last year.

“Nothing structurally about the building has changed; the shop front hasn’t changed except for a bit of paint and the inside hasn’t changed but for a bit of decorating.

“Yet the council rejected my application and are making me resubmit a full planning application just to get the change of use.”

The funeral director highlighted the significant financial investment he had made in the business, including rent, decorations, and equipment, amounting to £40,000. He expressed dismay at FODC’s insistence on resubmitting a full planning application for the change of use, and suspects an anonymous complaint may have triggered the council’s stance.

“I got visited by an enforcement officer who told me that there has been a complaint,” Mr Donnelly continued.

“I asked him who made the complaint and what it was about, but he told me he couldn’t say.”

With the closure deadline looming, Mr Donnelly finds himself in a quandary, unsure of his next steps.

“Do I close by March 11 and waste the thousands of pounds I’ve already spent establishing the business here?

“I’ve spent £40,000 setting this up so I have to fight and keep the business open. I just can’t close.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council was contacted for a response on Mr Donnelly’s claims but at the time of going to press, no-one was available to comment.