THE GRIEVING mum of tragic little Michael Eden, who died in a holiday camp swimming pool in North Wales last month, has slammed heartless vandals who went on an orgy of sick destruction in St Helens Cemetery.

Some £30,000 worth of damage was caused to headstones at the cemetery in the incident some time overnight between Wednesday, August 27, and Thursday, August 28.

And in a moving letter to the Star, Karen Eden, who is desperately trying to come to terms with her loss, revealed that following Michael's cremation on Tuesday, August, 26, flowers laid on the plot ready for the burial of the ashes on Thursday, August 26, were damaged, and a red-and-white rugby ball of flowers in memory of the young Saints fan was stolen.

Karen, who has two other children, Cheryl (12) and five-year-old Ryan, said: "On arriving at the cemetery to lay Michael to rest, my family, friends and I were faced with the malicious and destructive damage of more than 50 headstones, as well as the insensitive damage to my son's flowers which had been mauled and damaged.

"Even a Saints ball made of flowers, in memory of Michael who was a sports-mad Saints fan, was stolen. It was so upsetting to think that such evil people could do this and I wonder how they can sleep at night.

"This is a distressing time for me, and facing up to such malicious damage was very hurtful. My sorrow and grief goes out to all those other families who have had damage done to their loved ones' place of rest. Don't these sick people realise that as well as the distress they have caused, their selfish acts have cost people a great deal of money to repair or replace what damage has been done and many people are unable to meet such expenses?

"Personally, I will do my utmost to protect my son's headstone by having it insured. Although I will probably struggle to make the one-off payment, I will have peace of mind in knowing that the headstone will be safe for five years after that. My heart goes out to all the other people who have had such damage done, and I urge them to insure their loved ones' headstones, even though they are or should be at rest."

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