A FAMILY has appealed for expert help to restore a seven-foot tall headstone which was found badly damaged in a Malahide cemetery earlier this month.
Fingal County Council believes the headstone may have broken after being blown over by the wind, despite claims on social media that the grave had been targeted by vandals.
The small graveyard is located behind St Sylvester’s Infant School at Yellow Walls in Malahide.
While the exact circumstances of what happened are unclear, relatives of those buried in the plot said they believed that vandalism was the most likely cause and appealed to the public for information.
The family first became aware of the damage when photographs of the broken headstone – a seven-foot tall angel – were circulated on social media.
A spokesperson for the family, who asked not to be named, said she went straight down to the cemetery to see the damage for herself.
“I felt sick when I saw the broken headstone,” she told Northside People. “There are five generations of my family buried in that plot and the headstone has been there for 60 years.”
She added: “It was suggested to us that the headstone could have been blown down by the wind but the month of May has been the mildest weather to date.
“Why didn’t the wind knock over other headstones of similar size and age? There is no doubt in our minds that it was an act of vandalism.”
The family has appealed for expert advice on repairing or replacing the damaged headstone.
A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said: “Fingal County Council has carried out an inspection of the damaged headstone. It appears that it may have been blown over in the wind, rather than being a case of vandalism. Fingal County Council has been in contact with the family.”
• If you can offer the family any assistance in repairing or replacing the damaged headstone, email news@dublinpeople.com and we will put you in touch with them.