A Montrose couple grieving after the death of their twins have been shocked by a callous theft from their sons’ grave.
Karen Hill (22) and her partner Graeme Simpson (23) regularly visit the grave at Sleepyhillock cemetery, but were stunned to find two ornaments missing.
The couple’s twin sons were born in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, in February more than 16 weeks early.
David died less than an hour after he was born while his twin Graeme was taken to the neo-natal unit where the team cared for him for 37 hours until he also lost his fight for life.
The Eeyore and Tigger ornamets were at the grave as a symbol of the toys the babies never got a chance to play with.
Karen said, “I am absolutely sick that anybody could do this.
“Our family and friends, as well as ourselves, are all utterly devastated.
“At first I thought that maybe the council had moved the ornaments as they had dug out some of the ground in preparation for their headstone to be erected.
“However after phoning them I am now positive that someone has stolen them.”
She added, “I feel we’ve all been through enough heartache without this happening.
“I can’t imagine how anyone could steal from any grave, never mind the grave of a baby.
“It makes you think how sick a person must be to consider doing something like this.”AppealRegulars at the Star Hotel, where Karen works as a barmaid, have been equally disgusted.
There are two windmills and an angel on the grave and the couple have been advised to cement these in place to make it more difficult for thieves. Karen said, “Somebody else has had things stolen from her granddaughter’s grave so people are telling us to fix everything down with concrete.
“But why should we have to do that?
“I am aware that children go to the cemetery with their parents and might have been attracted to ornaments like Eeyore and Tigger.
“But surely a parent would notice if their child has accidentally taken something from someone’s grave, and even if they don’t know which grave it was taken from, they would hand it in.”
The couple have appealed to whoever took the ornaments to put them back, or hand them in anonymously to the hotel.
After the death of the twins Karen decided to raise money for the Ninewells neonatal unit as a mark of appreciation for all the help and support staff there gave her family.
A fund-raising event was held at the hotel last month and £3500 has been raised so far.