Caithness widow 'left seething' as she claims Highland Council workers damaged husband's gravestone with strimmer
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The widow of a man buried in Caithness has said that "she could cry every time" she goes to his grave after she claims his headstone was damaged by Highland Council workers.
The woman from Castletown, who wishes to remain anonymous, had her late husband's gravestone erected in September at Olrig Cemetry and says it was immaculate when it was put in by Norse Stone. However, when she went to the grave a few weeks later there was a big chunk out of the gravestone, which she believes was caused by a strimmer when Highland Council workers were cutting the grass on the grounds.
She said: "It's sheer carelessness which has caused the damage. I could cry every time I go to his grave.
"I'm still seething as the grave stone was perfect. It's just disrespectful what was done, and there is cut grass all over the place. The flower glass is caked with cuttings as well."
After making a complaint with Highland Council about the damage, the widow was told the damage was not caused by council workers, but that instead it was cement left on the gravestone from when it was erected. Highland Council did offer to pay for the repairs to the gravestone as a goodwill gesture.
She said: "I don't understand why they say it's not their fault, but would offer to pay for the damage to be repaired. It's not about the money for me – it's the lack of respect and the carelessness of how the grounds are looked after that is upsetting.
"I would like to have the cemetery and graves treated with the respect they are entitled to and for them to admit that the damage is due to their team."
She did not take Highland Council up on their offer to pay for the damage caused, and Norse Stone repaired the damage for free.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The customer has been in contact with the Council regarding this matter.
"We investigated it at the time and no evidence of strimmer damage was found on the headstone. The maintenance of the cemetery is in line with the set timetable and standard.”
