A driver went crazy in a remote island cemetery after crashing into a fence and damaging headstones.
The trail of destruction was left at Pennygown Cemetery on the Isle of Mull as residents celebrated the New Year.
Maggie MacLean, whose uncle’s headstone was found several meters from his grave, while her aunt’s was found crushed under the grass, said islanders across Mull had promised to keep an eye out for the vehicle and driver.
Miss MacLean, 65, from Salen, said: “They found bits of silver or gray paint on the fence and part of a number plate with the letter T on it.” There must have been damage to that vehicle, they destroyed a metal fence and a bench, only small pieces of wood remained.’
He said the damage to the two headstones occurred sometime on New Year’s Eve, adding: “There has been some force behind whatever hit the headstones, both bases were lifted off the ground.”
One of the headstones was over the grave of Miss MacLean’s aunt, Annie MacLean, who died in 1994.
The other grave hit by the vehicle was that of his uncle Neil MacColl, along with the ashes of his son Duncan MacColl.
Driver went crazy in remote island cemetery after crashing into fence and damaging headstones
The trail of destruction was left at Pennygown Cemetery on the Isle of Mull as residents celebrated the New Year.
A local farmer had reportedly seen the damage when he was checking his livestock early on New Year’s Day and Argyll and Bute Council staff went to the cemetery on Thursday to clean up the mess.
Miss MacLean said Neil MacColl’s widow Maude, who lives in Salen, was his aunt Annie’s half-sister, adding: “Maude is 87, it’s distressing, she doesn’t need this.” Waking up on New Year’s Day, it was not a good start to the year.’
He added that a local farmer had seen the damage when he was checking his livestock early on New Year’s Day and that Argyll and Bute Council staff went to the cemetery on Thursday to clean up the mess.
Miss MacLean said: “Thank you to the council workers who came to put the stones into place, although they were still not standing but lying down.”
He added: “It’s going to cost the family a lot to remake these stones, and it’s not knowing, please, whoever did this, come forward and take charge.”
‘CalMac staff have been informed on the island and also in Lochaline, but I believe the vehicle may still be on the island.
Islanders across Mull have promised to keep an eye on the vehicle and the driver, according to Maggie MacLean.
One of the headstones was over the grave of Maggie MacLean’s aunt, Annie MacLean, who died in 1994.
“It could be someone who belongs on the island and is very, very embarrassed, I don’t think he did it on purpose.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 11.40am on Wednesday 1 January 2024, we received a report that a vehicle had crashed into headstones at Pennygown Cemetery on the Isle of Mull.
‘The vehicle left the scene. Investigations are ongoing.’