A woman in the UK has spoken of her hurt and offence at a decision to block her from using an Irish-language inscription on her mother’s gravestone.

Margaret Keane’s family want the words “In ár gcroíthe go deo” inscribed on her gravestone in the St Giles burial ground at Exhall, Coventry.

However, a Church of England judge ruled that the inscription must have an English translation alongside it so that it won’t be mistaken as a “political statement.”

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mrs Keane’s daughter Bernadette Martin said the inscription, which means “in our hearts forever” was her final gift to her mother.

Margaret Keane died at the aged of 73 in July 2018.
Photo: The family of Margaret Keane.

She said the ruling was “totally offensive” and said the battle to have it overruled has been “quite distressing for us as a family.”

“We can’t comment on what is informing the QC when he made that statement, but the impact of that statement has been to cause offence,” she said.

She said her mother moved to the UK from Ireland as young girl and lived in Coventry until her death at the aged of 73 in July 2018.

She met her husband through the GAA and the couple remained “thoroughly engaged and engrossed” in the association throughout their lives.

Photo: The family of Margaret Keane.

“My mum was just a wonderful lady, she truly was, and anyone who met her was touched by her," she said.

“She was my best friend, my confidant and she will be dearly, dearly missed by all of us.

“For us, this headstone was just our final gift to her. It was our final words to a woman who had just had such an impact and given so much to others in her life.

“She really was a very special lady.”

The family have twice appealed the decision; however, the Church of England QC handed down his final decision in May.

The Church of England has distanced itself from his decision saying it does not reflect church policy.