Grieving family ‘just can’t understand why’
CRUEL... Vandals have defaced the ceramic photo adorning the late Mark McShanes grave. (80313JC12)
The callous vandals who defaced a grave in Derry’s city cemetery have been accused of causing unnecessary grief and suffering to a bereaved Derry wife.
Local man George Saunders hit out at those responsible for the damage to his brother-in-law Mark McShane’s grave and the devastation it has since caused.
“Vandals attacked by brother-in-law’s headstone and we just can’t figure out why,” the Ballymagroarty resident told the ‘Journal’ this week.
“My sister visited her husband’s grave to find the two big statues on either side of the grave - one of Our Lady and one of an angel - had been pulled off and just left lying there on the ground.”
“The ceramic photo of her husband on the headstone had been deliberately smashed up too. That has to get sent the whole way back to Italy to be remade.”
“Mark’s only been dead three years, so this is pretty raw for my sister.
“She couldn’t even go to her work when she saw it, she was so upset.
“She was just beginning to get herself together and had learnt to drive and found a job, but this has just knocked her right back.
“It was his 50th birthday just passed, and now this. It’s a disgrace.”
The firm who came to repair the damage reportedly told the family that it was more than likely adults who had carried out the attack - as the statues were too heavy for any child to move.
Inspection of surrounding graves confirmed their suspicions that their’s was the only grave defaced.
“We just can’t understand why,” Mr Saunders added. “Does someone have a vendetta against us that we don’t know about?”
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Weather for Derry
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: West
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