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Patrols increased after grave attack

1/ 5/2008

VANDALS interfered with a grave and damaged a coffin at Manchester’s Southern Cemetery.

Detectives are investigating the incident at the cemetery in Chorlton which involved the grave of a 70-year-old local man.

A footprint found at the scene could provide a vital clue.

A cemetery worker discovered the grave had been disturbed on Monday, April 28 and alerted police.

An area of the cemetery immediately surrounding the East Chapel was cordoned off while forensic experts gathered evidence.

The grave contained three ‘paupers’ coffins. The top one had been damaged but not opened.

There was room in the plot for one more coffin and large timber planks had been put over the top of the grave as well as a light covering of soil.

The timber had been removed in order to reach the coffin.

Police have traced the only person who attended the funeral of the man whose coffin was damaged. That person was not a relative.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We are working with council staff to arrange extra security to cover the cemetery."

The man whose coffin was damaged died at the beginning of this year.

The incident is being treated by police as an act of criminal damage but they have no motive for the attack.