Burns burial site is targeted by vandals

The burial place of Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns has been targeted by vandals.

A number of places at St Michael’ s church yard in dumfries were said to have been tagged with paint in the incident.

The spree is believed to have taken place during the early hours of Monday morning.

It saw gravestones, the church doors and Burns’ mausoleum all defaced.

PC Christopher Trosh at Dumfries said: “This appears to be a case of wanton vandalism on what after all is a sacred place.

“We have information that a person was in the church yard at around 1:43 this morning, spending some time there.

“We are examining the ‘tag’ of the graffiti and would ask that anyone who can help us identify the person responsible get in touch with us at Dumfries on the 101 number, or if they want to remain anonymous then through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The church’s minister, Rev Maurice Bond, said that it was “very sad” that the building and graves had been targeted.

“It is a terrible thing that this has happened,” he said.

“We don’t feel anger so much as sadness.”