Vandals attack 130 graves at Blantyre cemetery

Jun 26 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

MOURNERS at a Blantyre cemetery have been left heartbroken this week after 130 grave stones were vandalised.

During the past two weeks, yobs have damaged the graves in High Blantyre Cemetery on three separate occasions.

The vandalism occurred between 4.30pm and 8pm on June 5, June 12, and again on June 15.

Cathy Hendry (58), of Ballantrae Road, High Blantyre, is just one of the outraged mourners.

The grave stone of her parents Patrick and Bridgette Connor was knocked over by the vandals.

She said: “I went up to the cemetery about 1pm on Fathers Day (June 15) to put some flowers down for my dad. I was very upset to discover the stone lying face down on the ground.

“Why do people do it? We are all very upset.

“Luckily, we managed to stand the stone back up but it doesn’t have any foundations.

“I was lucky - one woman who was at the cemetery at the same time was very upset because the grave stone she was visiting was broken.”

Another regular visitor at the cemetery is Willie Bell (59).

Both of his parents are buried in two separate graves in High Blantyre.

“I was very lucky that both the graves were left untouched,” commented Willie.

“But it made me so sad to see the graves of all the other people lying on the ground, broken.

“I have been told that the graves are the responsibility of each family, but what about the graves that are hundreds of years old? What will happen to them? I hope there is some way where they can be repaired.”

Councillors for the Blantyre area have been contacted over the past week by several worried and outraged mourners.

Councillor John McNamee commented: “I am shocked at these heinous acts of vandalism.

“This behaviour can simply not be tolerated. The scale of the crime is unbelievable.

“Whoever committed these crimes is beneath contempt, they have absolutely no respect for others.

“The utter carnage they have caused is one thing, but the emotional distress their actions have caused to the loved ones of the deceased is indescribable.”

It is understood Blantyre Police have increased their presence around the cemetery since the vandalism came to light.

Councillor Bert Thomson added: “This act of vandalism has been very distressing for a lot of people.

“It is not just the physical damage of the stones; it is the emotional damage this has caused.

“These yobs are causing a lot of grief.

“I ask them to stop and think of the hurt they have caused.”

A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The gates of the cemetery are locked at 8pm every night and opened again at 8am the following morning.

“This issue has been reported to the police and our local problem-solving teams.

“We do not accept vandalism of any kind and this type of vandalism is particularly abhorrent.

“We are asking members of the public to be vigilant and contact the police.”

l Do you know who the vandals are?

E-mail gfraser@s-un.co.uk or call 01698 205013.