Rothwell mum's heartbreak as 'deplorable' thieves raid her son's grave

"It's just heart-wrenching."
Holy Trinity Church and inset, Niall McCormackHoly Trinity Church and inset, Niall McCormack
Holy Trinity Church and inset, Niall McCormack

A mum has begged for the return of items from her son's grave in Rothwell after callous thieves stole them.

Teresa Jackson has been left heartbroken after her son Niall Healey McCormack's final resting place at the Holy Trinity Church was raided earlier this month.

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Items taken from his grave included handwritten notes, a lantern, an angel wind chime, solar lights, solar ladybirds and solar blue roses - the colour of his "stunning" eyes.

How the grave looked before (left) and after (right) the theft.How the grave looked before (left) and after (right) the theft.
How the grave looked before (left) and after (right) the theft.

Teresa, 49, said: "It's just deplorable really.

"Never in your wildest dreams would you think they would take so much stuff off his grave.

"It's everything apart from the things that had his name on. It's just heart-wrenching."

A police investigation into the theft is ongoing.

Niall McCormack died aged just 22.Niall McCormack died aged just 22.
Niall McCormack died aged just 22.

It took place at some point between midday on August 12 and 4pm on August 16, although Teresa believes it's most likely that the theft took place on Saturday, August 15.

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She said Niall's two older sisters Siobhan and Darcy have been left heartbroken by the theft.

And Teresa, who works at Cheaney in Desborough, is now scared to put anything else on her son's grave in case it is also stolen.

Appealing directly to those responsible, she said: "Please just bring them back.

"They can do it anonymously and nothing will be said, just please bring them back."

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Niall, a popular former Montsaye Academy pupil with a large group of friends, was aged just 22 when he died last year.

The self-employed carpenter, who used to play football for Rothwell Aztecs, was working at a site in Alconbury, near Huntington, on October 30 last year when a roof gave way.

Niall suffered fatal injuries and a Health and Safety Executive investigation into his death is ongoing.

An inquest is also due to take place later this year.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman urged witnesses to the theft from his grave, or anyone with information, to contact them.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

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