Ballycarry cemetery theft traumatises grieving family

Carrick resident Elaine McIlwaine discovered the theft from Ballycarry new cemetery on Sunday June 26, when she visited the grave with relatives.

Elaine says that the theft was even more traumatic for the family as it occurred near the second anniversary of their brother Terence (Terry) McIlwaine’s death.

“We went down on Sunday to put flowers on the grave to mark the second anniversary of Terence’s passing and the plaque, which had been secured to a space at the bottom of the head stone, had been prised off,” Elaine told the Times.

“Terence was a real motorbike fan, he had owned a vintage Triumph Bonneville Classic and when he died we had a photo of the bike made into a ceramic plaque. We thought it was a lovely last tribute to our brother.

“But when we got to the grave it was gone. We couldn’t get over the fact that someone would stoop so low.”

Elaine says that Terence was a keen member of the motorcycling fraternity, and even rode in a side car during the TT race with Lowry Burton.

“Terence wouldn’t have wanted flowers, he was a biker and there were a lot of them at his funeral in 2014,” she continued.

“Terence was a joiner by trade, but he should have been a motorbike mechanic as he could take a bike apart and put it back together. The house we grew up in was always full of his friends coming to see if he could help them with their bikes, and he was a member of a Belfast Bikers’ Club.”

Elaine says that while the family would like to see the plaque returned, they are not hopeful, and are also too afraid of a further theft to commission a replacement plaque.

“This was our last act for our brother and it has made the second anniversary of his death, which we are still grieving, even harder,” she said.

“I want to alert the local community to be on their guard.”

To contact police with information, telephone 101.