A Fife family have been left “shocked and upset” after an eight-year-old girl found her dad’s gravestone vandalised on Father’s Day.
Lynn Napier and granddaughter Ashlyn Graham were visiting Liam Graham’s grave at Newburgh on Sunday to lay flowers.
Ashlyn was just a year old when Liam, 21, was killed in a car crash in 2015.
She joins Lynn every month to tend to the grave.
On Sunday’s visit the pair discovered a marble plaque – normally in place alongside the headstone – had been left smashed a short distance away.
‘They’ve broken my dad’s heart’
Lynn says the damage is the latest in a series of incidents that has left the family heartbroken.
She told The Courier: “It was Ashlyn who found the marble heart shaped stone smashed not far from her dad’s grave.
“She shouted, ‘they’ve broken my dad’s heart’.
“We visit a lot but to find such damage on what should be a particularly important day as Father’s Day is just terrible.
“For someone to break such a heavy, thick piece of marble would have taken some force and I’m certain it’s not been an accident.
“The stone has been purposely removed and deliberately smashed.
“It’s just shocking, we are so upset.
“How do I possibly begin to try and explain to an eight-year-old why anyone would want to do such a thing?
Ashlyn helps clean the headstone and keep it tidy so she’s just upset to find her dad’s grave damaged”
“Ashlyn was only a baby when her dad died and we want her to grow up knowing who he was so we visit the cemetery regularly.
“She helps clean the headstone and keep it tidy so she’s just upset to find her dad’s grave damaged.”
Liam died after the collision involving his car and another vehicle not far from his home, near the border between Fife and Perthshire.
Plea for other families to be vigilant
In a statement at the time, his family revealed he had just set a date for his wedding to fiance Karen.
Lynn says she has previously arrived at Liam’s grave to find items have been removed.
She said: “Liam was a massive Lewis Hamilton F1 fan, so we had a car and other F1 items that were fixed to the grave but they later disappeared.
“It’s hurt us so much but we now just want to warn others visiting the cemetery to be vigilant.
“We’d urge anyone who has also suffered damage or who has seen anyone acting suspiciously to report it straight away.
“This can’t be allowed to carry on.”
The damage has been reported to Fife Council, which manages the cemetery.
Liz Murphy, bereavement services manager, said: “We’re aware of the issue at Newburgh Cemetery and we will look into how this damage to the memorial has happened.
“We ask all visitors to our cemeteries to respect the final resting places of our relatives.
Vandalism in any public place is an offence – but in a cemetery it’s especially disrespectful”
“Vandalism in any public place is an offence – but in a cemetery it’s especially disrespectful and causes heartbreak for those affected.
“If you have any concerns that criminal or inappropriate behaviour is taking place, please get in contact with the police.
“And to report any issues within our cemeteries email bereavement.services@fife.gov.uk”
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