THE ‘desecration’ of 50 graves in Dundonald cemetery has caused shock and distress to family members, it has been claimed.
Items have been stolen from the graves including metal railings surrounding plots which have been cut off at ground level and removed.
The damage was brought to light by Maurice Patton, of Newtownards-based Grave Concerns Ireland. Mr Patton discovered the damage when he arrived at the cemetery to carry out restoration work.
His business specialises in the maintenance of graves and memorials for people who are unable to do this for themselves.
He was employed to do restoration work on the grave of Thomas and Elizabeth Patterson. Their daughters, Anne, Margaret and Minnie, are also buried at the same plot along with Anne’s husband Alexander Fannon.
Mr Patton had been employed by Anne and Alexander’s son, Tom Fannon, who now lives in Canada.
Mr Fannon explained his grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth, lived with their family in the Newtownards Road area of East Belfast. His grandfather Thomas had fought with the 36th Ulster Division in World War I.
Elizabeth died in 1946 and Thomas in 1956. “They worked hard and did the best for their family,” Mr Fannon said.
His aunt Minnie moved to Canada in the late 40s/early 50s and was followed by his parents and their children in 1970.
“The theft and destruction of gravesites has me wondering how low some people can go,” Mr Fannon said. “They have no scruples, decency or conscience”.
A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council said they were aware of some reports of recent damage at Dundonald cemetery and were assessing the situation, along with the PSNI.
“We understand this is a difficult and sensitive issue and we would appeal to the local community to work with us to address issues of anti-social behaviour in our cemeteries,” she said.
“We understand this will have been very upsetting for the family and our bereavement services team have engaged and made contact with the family affected”.
Mr Patton said he had been ‘shocked’ when he visited Dundonald cemetery to discover the metal surrounds at the Patterson plot had been cut off and stolen.
“Upon further examination I discovered quite a lot of graves with a similar problem throughout the graveyard – I estimate it to be approximately 50,” he continued. “How low can people get to steel railing from a graveyard”?
Mr Patton was also shocked when he found out the incident had happened on April 13 but that no-one from the council had contacted the press until he alerted them on April 25.
He feels the council has ‘poorly handled’ the incident. “I asked them why was this theft not reported to the press immediately it was discovered, so as to try and alert people who had loved ones buried in the cemetery,” he continued.
“This would have ruled out the possibility of them arriving at the cemetery unaware of their grave having been vandalised”.
