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Sickening

Hayley Rothwell
30/12/2002

A MAJOR clean-up operation is underway after heartless thugs wrecked Dukinfield cemetery and crematorium.

Council officials have offered a £1,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the conviction of the mindless vandals who knocked over 38 headstones, broke 10 windows in the waiting room and crushed floral wreaths.

Relatives paying their respects over the holidays were horrified by the devastation and have called for extra security to ensure it does not happen again.

Jean Lee, whose sister's and mother-in-law's gravestones were damaged, said the cemetery needs round-the-clock protection.

She said: "My husband went up to place wreaths on the graves on Monday and when he got up there my sister's headstone had been pushed over and further up his mother's was the same.
Crying

"It makes you very sad and very angry that these things can happen. My husband said it looked like a battlefield and people were coming out crying."

Tameside Council have offered a £1,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the successful conviction of the culprits, but Jean thinks the money could be put to better use.

"It's a useless gesture. What they should do is pay for the gravestones to be put back up because their security has failed."

Mike Gurney, the senior registrar at the crematorium, said he was astounded by the damage inflicted on Sunday, December 22.

He said: "We are shocked and devastated. It's an orgy of destruction. We can't imagine why anyone would want to cause so much damage and distress, particularly at this time of year when many people visit to remember their loved ones."

Cllr Catherine Piddington, the cabinet deputy for environment services, was disgusted by the vandalism.

She said: "I'm sure people will have been shocked to see the state of devastation. We hope visitors understand we are doing what we can as quickly as we can to restore the grounds.

"I have only words of disgust for these thugs who think Christmas celebrations are about causing as much havoc and distress as they can. They obviously have no feeling or understanding for their fellow human beings.

"We will be working closely and actively with the police to try to identify these villains and bring them to justice."

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.