Thieves break into cars during funeral service of popular Moneymore man

By Patricia Devlin

OUTRAGE has been expressed over thieves who targeted cars parked outside the funeral service of a popular Moneymore man.

Thugs smashed the windows of two vehicles parked close to St Johns Parish Church in the village as friends and family paid their last respects to local man Nigel Bell, who passed away suddenly on September 29th.

It happened on Tuesday, October 2nd in the Minister Walk area between 3.10pm and approximatley 5pm during the 46 year-old’s funeral service. A handbag was stolen from one of the cars, belonging to a mourner, whilst the other vehicle, belonging to a member of the public who had parked it in the area before travelling to work, sustained window damaged.

Councillor Trevor Wilson condemned the thefts and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

“I would appeal to anyone with information on these thefts that took place to contact police immediately.”

“It beggars belief that someone would go out of their way to target cars of those paying their last respects to someone that they have known. It would have been quite obvious to the thief or thieves responsible that there was a funeral taking place.”

Paying tribute to the late Mr Bell, UUP colleague Councillor Robert Kelly described him as “well liked, well respected and family orientated”.

He said: “Within a couple of months Moneymore has lost two reasonably young men, who passed away suddenly.

“I knew Nigel for years, and he was always well liked and well respected in the area. He was the sort of person who got on with everybody, and never made a difference with anyone. He would stop and speak to everyone and was very family orientated.”

Husband to Florence, Nigel is survived by his four children Charlene, Nadine, Anita and Michael. Following his funeral Nigel was laid to rest in St Johns Parish Church cemetery.