Damage to Wick cemetery floral displays 'heartbreaking'
Damage to floral displays at gravestones in Wick has been described as "heartbreaking" and "a perfect disgrace".
A 79-year-old local woman found evidence of what appeared to be a series of acts of vandalism when visiting the old part of the town's cemetery with a friend earlier this week.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, estimated that seven or eight displays of artificial flowers had been targeted.
Initially she thought only one display was affected. "All the heads were pulled off it and thrown about," she said. "I got them all back on."
Then, as she and her friend walked further, they realised that others had also been torn out of their holders.
"As we went along that strip, all the flowers were pulled up, the heads were all pulled off and scattered on the ground," the woman said.
"They just seemed to pull the heads, what they could get off, and throw them.
"It is so sad. It's a perfect disgrace. Those were new flowers."
The woman thinks the damage must have been carried out at the weekend, as the flower heads were still close to the gravestones in each case and hadn't been blown away by the wind.
One of the graves is that of a World War II serviceman.
The woman said: "I thought, 'That was someone who fought in the war and these mindless fools have pulled the heads off the flowers.'
"As we walked down, there were others that had been pulled. My friend said, 'Just look at that, it's really heartbreaking to see.'"
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Vandalism, while not only criminal, is a total waste of taxpayers’ money and diverts resources from council works and services.
“Wilful damage to people’s resting places is utterly unacceptable and causes unnecessary distress to family and friends of those who have passed. It is all the more distasteful that one of the affected graves belonged to a World War II veteran, who fought a war to ensure we all enjoy the privileges and freedoms we take for granted today.
“We would urge anyone who witnesses or falls victim to such a mindless act to contact Police Scotland on 101.”
