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STW always give help when in need, so it's my turn to seek your help.
You guys will hopefully give me answers or point me where to look .
Just had the call from my mum (We knew it could be coming) to say my Dad has passed. I live in the Republic of Ireland and my mum is in clackmannanshire. What are the current restrictions on me going over/attending funeral. I dont think there are any flights in to Scotland from here at the moment and I think ferries are freight only. Can I get on a ferry in the North on compassionate grounds, is there any point if I cannot stay anywhere in Scotland or attend funeral etc.
I work in a pharmacy so can get a PCR test before coming over if it changes anything.
Thanks in advance. Off to tell the kids now😢
I can’t help with your questions unfortunately, but my condolences to you and your family.
My condolences Andy. My mum died in Edinburgh a month or so ago. You are allowed to travel to attend a funeral.
My MIL died at the end of October, we live in Spain and we could only attend the funeral service in Truro, not the wake or any other interaction with relatives. We spent the rest of the time in the UK confined in our camper van, thankfully the time between ferries in and out of Plymouth was only 4 days.
Andy,
The rules seem to be slightly different depending on whether you are in Co. Donegal or elsewhere in the ROI. However, even if you are in Co Donegal attending a funeral/wake are permitted under s3(2)y of the regulations https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/344/schedule/7A the same rule would permit you to travel for "compassionate reasons relating to the end of someone's life" (they don't state that the compassion must only be for the deceased).
You may also note that if in light of your father's death (or any other reason) your mother is now a "vulnerable person" then you can visit to provide care or assistance under s3(2)f at any time (ie. not just at the time of the funeral).
If you are reading the regs, Clackmannan is currently level 3 but will go to level 4 on 26th Dec. I'm not sure about physical logistics for getting here - appreciate you'll want to be here sooner rather than later to support your mum. In normal years funerals are quite slow to organise at this time of year, I'm sure covid is not helping, so it is quite likely to be the new year before that is possible. Keep in mind that 4th Jan is a public holiday in Scotland so almost certainly no funerals in Jan till the 5th at the earliest.
I don't know what restrictions ROI might have on your return (now or in the future).
My condolences.
The guidance for traveling to/from Scotland* lists several exceptions allowing travel:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/#exceptions
It's quite far down the list, but exceptions exist for
travel for gatherings related to funerals or for compassionate reasons which relate to the end of a person’s life. This includes gatherings related to the scattering of ashes
Hope that helps.
*Mainland Scotland all goes into Tier 4 as of Boxing Day, islands will be less restricted.
5 days isolation, PCR test and negative result - can then travel.
Same back into Ireland.
Can circumnavigate by going up the north and zoom to troon.
Commiserations on your loss, a shit time for it to happen.
As long as you're ok for isolating on your return it should all be good. The leaving the Republic return bit will be your limiting part of the trip. As the Plague Island we're reasonably relaxed about those arriving with a good grip of disease control.
Sorry for your loss and I hope that your mother is bearing up well. If we weren't socially distancing I would offer you a sympathetic hug.
The response in here is worth noting. Also speaking to a Traffic Officer friend indicated that you’d need to be very unlucky to be pulled over and even more unlucky to find an officer having a very bad day to have any issues. We’re relying on this compassionate leeway for a close relative who has just been given a very short time to live, but he’s in Essex and we’re near Glasgow
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-54266225
Terribly sorry to hear your news mate.
Take care and I hope you can find a way to be with your mum.
Thankyou all.
From what you have said and my own enquires it seems that I can currently get from Ireland to Scotland ok. My problem seems to be that I cannot get back into Ireland until 1st January at the earliest due to travel ban. If this gets extended past the 1st of January then I am stuck in Scotland until travel ban is lifted. On my return to Ireland I now have to isolate for 14 days as due to the new restrictions the 5 day rule with a clear test is no more.
so if it looks like I need to try and get at least 3 weeks off work (if travel ban is not extended), but don’t even know when funeral is yet. If travel ban gets extended I am ****ed..... good times.
Or should I break rule number one and travel to larne, jump on a ferry over and do the same back and not say anything. Doable but doesn’t feel right, but neither does not getting over.
My condolences for your loss.
Oli
I know this year may be different but MIL died late on Christmas Eve last year.
It was the middle of January before we could have the funeral!
This was in West Lothian BTW.
Sorry for your loss. My take is that you should go if you want and can in a practical sense, regardless of details of rules. OTOH if it's a massive hassle and/or risk, you shouldn't feel too bad about not attending. It's unusual times. My dad died over the summer and it was odd having the funeral with the barest minimum of direct family, but worked out quite well really. (nNot that there would have been a huge crowd, but there would have been a bit more of an event to mark the occasion.) You have to roll with the punches a bit these days.
