Sister’s anger over lack of care at bomb victim’s grave
THE sister of a soldier who died in a Northern Ireland bomb attack has slammed the Ministry of Defence as ‘disrespectful’ for letting his grave fall into disrepair.
Clinton Collins, of Offerton, was aged just 20 when he killed by the blast in 1982 as he celebrated his promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal in a pub.
He had joined the Cheshire Regiment straight from school and is buried at Stockport Cemetery.
But his sister Tracey Hunt, 50, says the grave has not been tended to by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in more than two years, despite its assurances it would be regularly maintained.
She said: “It is covered in mould, the inscription is getting more and more difficult to read and it is not white like it should be but a horrible grey.
“It is a mess and this is so disrespectful. I am ashamed when I see the headstone, you would have thought the MoD would be more respectful to someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
“We can’t do anything to it as it belongs to the MoD.”
Clinton, who lived in Dalby Grove, was in the Droppin Well, Ballykelly, on December 6 when the bomb went off. He was one of 17 – including 11 soldiers – who were killed.
Tracey remains fiercely proud of her brother and says she has had problems with the MoD since 2011.
The government department cleaned the grave in November 2012 and, despite promising to tend to it at least once a year, it has now been left since March 2013.
Despite contacting the MoD six times she has yet to hear back.
Tracey, who now lives in Blackpool and works as a teaching assistant, said: “He was so proud to serve his country and had just been promoted that night, which was why he was out.
“You speak to his colleagues now they still remember him as a good lad who loved being in the Army. He was loyal and like a dad, best friend and brother to me all in one.”
A MoD spokesman said: “Those who gave their lives in the service of their country deserve a dignified and fitting final resting place.
“Where we have responsibility for a headstone, we ensure they are assessed and cleaned at least once per year.
“We are sorry Lance Corporal Collins’s family are unhappy with the appearance of his headstone and we have arranged for a survey and cleaning to take place.”