Mum’s plea for return of stolen grave ornaments

A BEREAVED mother is pleading with heartless thieves to return ornaments stolen off her teenage daughter’s grave.

Vicky Gilmore’s 17-year-old daughter, Kelly Gilmore, was killed in a car crash in Aberaeron on 10 July 1997.

And despite living in Manchester, Vicky, along with family and friends, many of whom still live in Aberystwyth, make regular visits to the grave at Llanbadarn Fawr Cemetery to lay flowers and ornaments.

But Vicky told the Cambrian News how “upsetting” and “unfair” it was to discover on Christmas Eve that ornaments placed on Kelly’s grave, which she shares with her father Thomas Gilmore, had been taken.

“They have taken three golden cherubs,” she said. “It is not about the cost of replacing them, it is more to do with the sentimental value.

“There have been lots of little bits taken, not just the cherubs — there were little Catholic statues, and other little knick-knacks.

“I think it’s unfair really. It is very upsetting. I don’t live in Aberystwyth so I can’t go there all the time — I rely on family and friends to take flowers up for me and send me a photo.”

And Vicky said it was not the first time her daughter’s grave had been targeted by criminals