Readers slam heartless memorial bench vandals as “disgusting” and “animals”

Our Facebook readers shared the anger of distraught Coatbridge father Ian Mallon after a memorial to his murdered son Craig was vandalised.

Craig, 26, was tragically killed after an assault in the coastal Spanish resort of Lloret de Mar in 2012; and Ian and wife Antoinette were left devastated after flower pots, solar panels and other ornaments surrounding a bench tribute to their son at Old Monkland cemetery were recently smashed and broken.

Sharon Marie Smith slammed the heartless culprits: “Absolutely disgusting! How could someone do that?

“I stopped to admire all the work someone had put into creating this lovely memorial a few weeks back.”

Mary Duncan said: “Disgusting, no respect here. Stay strong Ian, hope they get whoever did this.”

Michelle Burns added: “Terrible thing to do. Hope whoever did it is caught soon.”

Eileen Rolink posted: “Absolutely disgusting. Sheer vandalism and no respect.”

Tammy Bryce asked: “Who would do something like this? Awful!”

Martin Lockhart lamented: “Nothing is safe any more! Totally disgusted.”

Billroberta McDonald didn’t hold back in her criticism of the vandals: “To call them animals is an insult to animals.”

Claire Kane commented: “What a disgrace.”

Also troubling our Facebook readers was our story on the terrifying late night phone call received by Councillor Sophia Coyle.

The woman responsible – who has since pled guilty to her shameful actions in court – threatened to chop the Airdrie North representative’s head off and accused her of having an affair with another local politician.

Martin McWilliams said: “No councillor should be subjected to abuse like this, which is totally unacceptable.”

Kirsten Jorgensen added: “This is totally disgusting!”

Heartache Ian Mallon at his son Craig’s memorial, which was targeted by vandals