Widow devastated after grave ornament theft

A distraught Eileen Burns of Landgarve Manor, said that she is so desperate to have it returned that she has searched every grave yard in Crumlin, Antrim and Glenavy looking for it, in the hope that it would be found.

Eileen’s husband Patrick, a former country and western singer, died four years ago after a short battle with cancer. He passed away on September 29, 2009.

The white heavy ornament was bought during a special visit to Knock by her daughter. The ornament has gold faded inscriptions dedicated to her father with the angel holding a cross and a bible.

Other items on the grave include a black bible with Eileen and Patrick’s wedding vows, a Padre Pio, a Sacred Heart and other angels were not touched.

Eileen who suffers from sciatica and arthritis would visit the grave up to five times a week - the couple had been together for 40 years. Her daughter too would visit it weekly with her family. It was when Eileen was at a funeral recently that she realised that someone had taken from the grave.

“I cannot understand why someone would do such a thing,” said Eileen. “My daughter had bought that for Patrick and it means so much to her.

My heart is breaking. “The ornaments are so precious to us. I would remove the ornaments from the grave during the winter for fear that frost would ruin them. But to think someone has stolen this statue is just heartbreaking,

“My husband died in my arms. He was such a good person. He never drank in his life and was totally devoted to his family.

He loved his family. He was the nicest person. He was just a gentle giant. It breaks my heart to think someone would do this. They are no better than grave robbers. They have stolen from the dead. You cannot get much lower than that. How can anyone do that in a grave yard?

“The angel is so heavy one person could not carry it. I could not carry it. Maybe a man might lift it.”

Police believe it had been stolen from the Antrim Road graveyard between 11am on July 18 and midday on July 22.

Sinn Fein councillor Annemarie Logue said, “I am appalled that anyone would rob from a grave yard and steal something so precious and personal to a loved one. I would appeal that the monument is handed back into the nearest church or chapel so that the family can have some piece of mind.”