Published: Thursday, 27th November, 2008 11:35
Vandals trash memorial to dead babies at Dunfermline Crematorium
By Gary Fitzpatrick
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A BABIES’ memorial at Dunfermline Crematorium has been vandalised in a “deplorable” act.
The damage, which included the smashing of vases and the theft of a statue installed by the SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths) charity, has left grieving parents “devastated”.
The baby garden is a special area reserved for families to remember their infants.
A statue of a baby held in an open palm was placed by the SANDS group in the garden and it was this which was stolen.
In a separate incident, members of another West Fife family were left distraught when their memorial to their late mother was set on fire.
Jo-Anna Fraser, from Rosyth, Fife co-ordinator for SANDS, said, “A couple from Dalgety Bay whose son died a year ago were at the baby garden on the Saturday (15th) to mark the occasion and they saw the statue was missing but found it nearby.
“On the Sunday, they were also there and found the same thing had happened. They saw it lying among leaves and replaced it again.
“Some people had given them flowers to mark the occasion and they took them during the week and they found these items were missing.
“They have been left devastated by this happening at what was already a very difficult time for them.”
She added, “As parents we have very little to remember our children by and that is why the baby garden is so important.
“It’s some recognition of our babies’ existing.
“We had planned to put up Christmas trees but with this happening we probably won’t do it because it would be too upsetting if they were vandalised.”
For Fife Constabulary, Temporary Superintendent Robert Baker said, “To commit such crime in an area which has such great meaning is an absolutely deplorable act.
“Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves and their actions.
“I would ask anyone who knows who committed these acts or knows the whereabouts of the statue to contact the police.”
A spokesman at the crematorium said this was the first outbreak of vandalism he could recall there.
However, a similar incident at the weekend left another family angry and upset after discovering damage to their memorial.
On Sunday, Alyson Gardner, whose family still live in Rosyth, had travelled from her home in Whitburn to visit the crematorium garden where the ashes of her mother, Andrea, were scattered.
She found that cards, preserved flowers and vases had been set on fire.
“I was totally gutted and couldn’t stop crying afterwards,” said Alyson.
“I was just grateful it wasn’t my dad who had gone up but the worst thing was having to tell him and the rest of the family what had happened as I knew how much it would upset them.
“I don’t know what kind of idiots would do something like this and how they’ve been brought up.
“This has been the first vandalism like this we’ve seen but on other Sundays when we’ve gone there we’ve found beer cans and Buckfast bottles lying around, which isn’t very nice in a place like that and completely disrespectful to the families who go there.”
Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to call the police on 01592 251111.
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