Grave of Plymouth baby damaged on 10th anniversary of her death
A HORRIFIED mother has spoken of her shock at finding ornaments lefts at the grave of her baby girl smashed and missing – on the 10 year anniversary of her death.
Tragic tot Stacey Mortimore was just nine-months-old when she died on February 26, 2003.
Her family have regularly attended her graveside at Weston Mill Cemetery.
But on the anniversary this year, her 15-year-old sister Zoe came across the "mess" apparently left by vandals.
Mum-of-eleven Irene told The Herald she was "upset and angry".
She said at lunch time on the anniversary Zoe had taken her friend to the grave to pay their respects and lay some flowers.
"Zoe rang me from the graveside and told me that someone had smashed the ornaments and even taken windmills we had put on the grave," Irene said.
"She was upset about it and only told me after she had tidied it up because she didn't want me seeing the mess when I went up later."
Baby Stacey was one of 10 children born to Irene and her partner Steven.
A postmortem examination revealed the youngster had died after choking on her own vomit.
The family said had placed ornaments, flowers and windmills to brighten up Stacey's grave.
They reported the mess to staff at the cemetery office.
"I just hate that at night people can go into the cemetery and damage peoples graves," Irene added.
"It's just not fair that people who go to visit their loved-ones, they have to go through what we are going through.
"We are there to show our respects.
"When we are feeling low it's nice to be able to go there to be with her. I'm just upset and angry."
6 Comments
by bilbobaggins
Monday, March 04 2013, 7:14PM
“sick B#@#@@~s”
by cakegirl
Monday, March 04 2013, 4:46PM
“i live close to ford park cemetary and have noticed that in the last 2 weeks they now have large signs on the gates to say it is security patrolled . maybe weston mill should do the same”
by sidewinder
Monday, March 04 2013, 2:52PM
“The cemetarys should be employing security guards, the funeral companies earn enough,how about graveyard security?”
by Tessa43
Monday, March 04 2013, 12:51PM
“I had my baby cremated and scattered on top of her great-grandpa in the adult memorial gardens. This was in 1988 as they were having a lot of vandalism then too with the baby graves. It is about time something was done to stop this. Losing someone is hard enough, a baby is extremely hard, but to then have their resting place destroyed is hurtful beyond words. These teens who do this for fun are sick in the head. I have seen them sat on the wall waiting. Well you wont get my baby girl.”
by gembet
Monday, March 04 2013, 11:15AM
“I really feel for this family, and its not just this grave, my late father bought a statue for my mothers grave, and bought strong glue to place it by the headstone, and someone took it, we found it and marked the angel, underneath, and placed it back by the headstone. My Father past away, and when i went to the grave to place flowers at Christmas , the angel has been taken again, i went to the office, and said that the cemetery should be locked up at night , to stop these youths, hooligans , from going in and destroying family plots. We all want to see our family graves look attractive, but because of mindless kids, we cant, something has to change . I went up North awhile ago, and their cemetries are fenced , alarmed , camera,s and locked up at night, so Plymouth show respect to all who have families ,babies here laid to rest , after all we pay for the ground, so we should have something back”
by dollie
Monday, March 04 2013, 8:24AM
“The problem i find is there is a path leading up from the football pitch at the bottom to the cemetary. I was attending my babies grave and a man came behind me, he was only cutting through but it was very unnerving.
The Cemetary need to close off these gaps because I wont put anything there as it just goes.
I feel for this lady as it digs a knife into your heart.”