THE DAUGHTER of a man whose grave was desecrated last week says that she feels her father’s final resting place has been “touched by evil”.
Eileen O’Reilly told the Limerick Post that she, her mother Christine and brothers, Stephen and Michael, were “left without words” to describe the devastation they felt when they saw the vandalism that had been carried out on their father’s grave in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.
Michael (Mikey) O’Reilly’s tombstone was toppled from its plinth and split in half while the small and lovingly maintained memorial pieces and surrounds of the grave were smashed and scattered.
The Prospect man’s final resting place was one of three graves destroyed on the same night.
While losing a parent is always heartbreak, Eileen said the circumstances of her dad’s death in 2008 were particularly hard.
“It was his 50th birthday. We had a party for him and it was a great night. He went home in the early hours and by 6am he was dead of a massive coronary. We lost him far too young.
“This has brought it all back. My mother can’t stop crying. It’s as though we were having the funeral all over again.
“We can’t replace what was there. We went up every Sunday and built up a little memorial garden for him, with ornaments and flowers. We can’t understand how anyone could do this to sacred ground.
“When we saw the damage I just felt like it had been touched by evil.”
The damage will cost thousands to repair and several friends have suggested setting up a Go Fund Me page.
“People have been very good and very supportive but our family never asked anything from anyone. My dad never did anything to anyone. Apart from going to get passport forms stamped, reporting this was the first time any of us set foot inside a Garda station.
“The Council said there is CCTV in the graveyard but why do you have to have cameras watching a grave? Is this what society has come to?”
Eileen said they want to see someone held accountable for the pain this has brought to her family.
“There is absolutely no excuse for what was done. This was pure, destructive, wanton vandalism.”
Gardaí confirmed that the damage has been reported to them and they are investigating this and two other incidents of damage to graves in the same location.
“Gardaí are appealing for information in relation to an incident of alleged criminal damage to a gravestone at Mount St Oliver Cemetery, Limerick, which took place between 8pm on Wednesday 9th August, and 3pm on Thursday 10th August 2023,” a statement from An Garda Síochána said.
“Investigations are ongoing. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Any individuals who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the Bawnmore Road area of Limerick between 9pm on Wednesday 9th of August, and 3pm on Thursday the 10th of August, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
Anyone who may have information useful to the investigation is asked to contact Roxboro Road Garda Station on 061 214 340, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
