Yobs attack youngster's grave
The grave of a courageous Shropshire boy who died from a muscle-wasting disease has been desecrated by thieves, leaving his family heartbroken.The grave of a courageous Shropshire boy who died from a muscle-wasting disease has been desecrated by thieves, leaving his family heartbroken. Yobs scattered a basket of flowers and stole three decorative lights from the burial place of 13-year-old Kieran Nolan, of Dawley, Telford. Linda Yeates, his grandmother, said: "What sort of a world are we living in? This is despicable." Kieran, a pupil at Lord Silkin School, Stirchley, died at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital on August 16, after contracting a chest infection which developed into pneumonia. He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the severest form of the disease, at the age of two and had been wheelchair-bound since he was five. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
The grave of a courageous Shropshire boy who died from a muscle-wasting disease has been desecrated by thieves, leaving his family heartbroken.
Yobs scattered a basket of flowers and stole three decorative lights from the burial place of 13-year-old Kieran Nolan, of Dawley, Telford.
Linda Yeates, his grandmother, said: "What sort of a world are we living in? This is despicable."
Kieran, a pupil at Lord Silkin School, Stirchley, died at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital on August 16, after contracting a chest infection which developed into pneumonia.
He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the severest form of the disease, at the age of two and had been wheelchair-bound since he was five.Kieran's bubbly and happy personality impressed everyone he met and he never complained about his condition.
He was buried at Castle Green Cemetery, Lincoln Hill, Ironbridge, on August 24 and his family are hoping to have a headstone placed there before Christmas.
But his parents, Kim and John Cherrington, were devastated when they visited the plot on Wednesday and found it it had been attacked.
Mrs Yeates said: "My daughter had bought three special 3D lights in Kieran's memory - one a dragon fly, one a snowflake and the other a star - which changed colour and looked really pretty.
"They were wrapped round some metal poles on the grave with a battery pack hanging behind.
"All three lights were stolen and the thieves had thrown the basket of flowers all over the ground.
"I guess the thieves wanted the lights to use as decorations at Christmas. We've been round everywhere trying to get replacements but no-one has got any in.
"We are all absolutely distraught that Kieran's grave has been desecrated so soon after he was buried."
Mrs Yeates said the cemetery gates were locked at 4pm each day, although intruders still managed to get in at night and she believed there had been several other similar incidents.
She appealed for anyone else who had suffered vandalism or theft at the graveyard to contact her on (01952) 270923.
A Telford police spokesman confirmed the theft was being investigated. Anyone with information is asked to contact Telford's Malinsgate police station on 08457 444888.
By Peter Johnson
