AN island-wide search is underway to track down a “hit and run” driver who smashed through a cemetery sending headstones flying off two graves.
The trail of destruction, which also trashed a bench into tiny pieces at Pennygown Cemetery, near Salen, happened as residents and visitors on the Isle of Mull were celebrating the new year.
Maggie MacLean uncle’s headstone was found several feet away from his grave, while her aunt’s was found flattened under turf, said islanders all over Mull had vowed to keep a lookout for the vehicle and driver.
Maggie, 65, from Salen, said: “They found bits of silver or grey paint on the fence and part of a number plate with the letter T on it.
“There must be damage to that vehicle, they smashed through a metal fence and a bench, it was just wee bits of wood that was left.
“There’s been some force behind whatever has hit the headstones, both bases lifted from the ground.
“Waking up on New Year’s Day, it wasn’t a good start to the year.”
One of the headstones was on the grave of Miss MacLean’s aunt, Annie MacLean, who died in 1994.
The other grave hit by the vehicle was that of her uncle Neil MacColl, along with the ashes of his son Duncan MacColl.
She added: “It’s going to cost the family quite a lot to get these stones redone, and it’s the not knowing, please whoever did this, come forward and own up.
“CalMac staff have been made aware on the island and at Lochaline too, but I think the vehicle is maybe still on the island.
“It could be somebody belonging to the island and they are very, very embarrassed, I don’t think it was done on purpose.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.40am on Wednesday, 1 January, 2024, we received a report of a vehicle having crashed into headstones at Pennygown Cemetery, Isle of Mull.
“The vehicle left the scene. Enquiries are ongoing.”