Family distressed by thefts from cemetery

Family distressed by thefts from cemetery

17 June 2015

A GRIEVING Killyleagh pensioner has spoken of his distress after thieves targeted the grave of his wife and son at the weekend.

Seventy seven year-old Michael O’Loughlin is devastated by the incident in which three memorial items were stolen from the grave of his wife Beth, who passed away last September, and their son Walter, who died in 2012.

Married for 57 years before Beth’s death, Mr O’Loughlin admits he is struggling to recover from the loss of his wife so soon after the death of their 50 year-old son and has been tearful about the thought of somebody “plundering” their grave.

Three items were taken during the weekend incident at St Mary’s Cemetery at Comber Road, including a ball with a heart inside and two plaques, one of which has the family’s name on it.

He says he has been deeply upset and perplexed by the theft, which he says is something he “simply could have done without.”

“I am at a complete loss. I have cried because I do not understand this. I just do not understand why anybody would do this,” he said.

“I am finding out how much death makes a change in life. I lost Beth and that was expected following the death of our son, but I can’t see any reason that anybody would do this.

“Nine months is not long enough to get over my wife’s death. I do not know if the next nine months will be any different but I do know that I would never desecrate a grave.

“One of the plaques has the name of our family on it and so is no use to anybody else. I just plead with whoever has our things to leave them back.”

Mr O’Loughlin’s son, also called Michael, said the incident had upset his family who were concerned about their father.

He said his dad carefully tended the grave because he thought that was befitting to his wife and son.

“It has been a horrible time for our family recently and this is making things worse. My mum never got over the loss of her son and it has taken my dad this length of time to come to some sort of terms with both losses,” he said.

“My mum was loved by everybody. There is no way this could be anything personally against her but my dad feels as if somebody is taking something out on her.

“We can’t say if it is anything against us as a family. Maybe it is just young people taking drink or drugs at night who do not realise the impact of what they are doing.”

Mr O’Loughlin appealed for those responsible to return the stolen items to anywhere in the graveyard they may be found.

“They are of sentimental value and we will not hold any grudges if they are returned,” he said.

“It would make such a difference, it would mean the world to my dad.

“This is worse than having your house robbed because somebody stood on top of where my mum and brother are buried. It does not bear thinking about.”