ABOUT 100 headstones in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery have been desecrated in a rampage in the graveyard on Monday night.
A gang appears to have entered the cemetery at a low part of the boundary wall at the Finglas end of the graveyard. Part of a metal grave surround had been propped against the wall and used as a ladder.
A number of gravestones near the wall were smashed, and a trail of broken marble and granite headstones led across about 200 yards of graves towards the centre of the cemetery.
Among the memorials damaged were stone celtic crosses, some dating back more than 100 years. But the most commonly damaged were white marble and black granite slabs of more recent dates.
Headstones were rocked free of their mountings, and broken segments of some were then used to damage others. Some slabs had clear bootmarks.
The manager of the cemetery, Mr George McCullough, estimated the total cost of the damage at £150,000. Some of the damaged headstones were worth between £400 and £1,500 but cemetery staff believe many can be repaired at lower cost.
One man left the cemetery distraught yesterday after he saw the grave of his son, who died not long ago after a car accident. The headstone was lying on the ground, wrenched from the metal dowels which had held it to its plinth.
The destruction was discovered yesterday morning when a funeral was due to arrive at prepared grave.
A list of the names on the damaged headstones has been compiled, and relatives can ring the cemetery office at 01-8301133 for information. Gardai at Mountjoy station are investigating.