Families 'devastated' as gravestones smashed at cemetery in the Midlands

A number of families have been left devastated after graves were smashed at a cemetery in the Midlands on Thursday night

Ber McEvoy’s mother and father’s grave was one of those vandalised during the incident at Portlaoise Cemetery. 

She spoke of her devastation and that of her family following what she believes was a random act of vandalism at SS Peter & Paul's Cemetery on the Stradbally Road, Portlaoise. 

“As a family we are devastated. It is just heartbreaking,” she said after seeing the destruction caused to her parents grave.

“It just seems to have been random graves they picked on,” she explained. 

“We had the headstone up and in the middle a statue of Our Lord and they pulled that off the plate,” Ber explained. 

She said a Celtic cross was pulled off another grave in the cemetery and stone plaques were smashed during the night. 

“They don’t know whether they had a hammer or they just picked them up and fired them off,” said. 

“To think what the world is coming to. To think that someone would do that in a graveyard,” said Ber. 

She was alerted to the damage by a neighbour and she visited the cemetery at lunchtime.  Ber said other families are also finding out about the damage. She counted at least five damaged graves but was unsure how many in total had been vandalised. 

“There is a few people down there(cemetery) and they are so, so angry,” she remarked. 

“It is devastating, that is the only thing I can tell you,” said Ber. 

The Gardai have been alerted to the damage and an official from Laois County Council is at the graveyard documenting the damage. 

Cemetery Committee members spent most of Friday on the scene assessing the damage. They estimate that thousands of euro worth of damage has been done with at least seven headstones badly damaged with less extensive harm done to other memorials. 

Most of the headstones affected were black marble. 

Terry Swayne is secretary of the committee which has been working to upgrade facilities since it was established nearly 15 years ago. 

"We're extremely shocked and saddened by the shocking damage that has been done. We're carrying out a full assessment of the headstones and are seeking a meeting with Laois County Council and the Gardaí," he said. 

Mr Swayne added that families have been notified by the committee.

The public representatives on the committee are Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, Cllr Marie Tuohy, Cllr Willie Aird. It is understood that they have sought a meeting with senior Gardaí in an effort to track down those responsible.

Gardai have appealed to anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100.