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Memorial for dead burgler

(36 Posts)
ninathenana Wed 11-Apr-18 16:41:42

I struggled as to what title to give this.

I'm wondering how GNs feel about the hoo-ha over the flowers being left for the burgler killed by the pensioner ?
The relatives are calling it murder and that he deserves to be remembered and honoured in this way. The law says it wasn't murder which it wasn't and it seems that he was a nasty piece of work.
If I was the owner of the fence (pensioner lives opposite) the relatives are tying the flowers too, I would not be happy, does this infact constitute criminal damage hmm The relatives are of course entitled to make their memorial but in my opinion it's wrong to do it there.

sparkly1000 Wed 11-Apr-18 18:42:24

I doubt the brave pensioner will ever be able to return to his home as most traveller's sites are now council provided and static. Not exactly what you plan for in your retirement.
As for the makeshift shrine, the owner of the fence is probably terrified of reprisals against his family and property if he or she takes any action, I know I would be. The travelling community seem to be a law unto themselves and the Police pussyfoot around them worried about being seen as ethnically incorrect.

PamelaJ1 Wed 11-Apr-18 18:45:54

I’m afraid that I am at a loss to understand why people do this. I can’t think that it would ease my grief much.
We have a “shrine” at the end of our road at the moment, a young man, about 29 I think, was killed in an accident that I understand may have been caused by his extremely speedy motorbike riding.
It has been there since before Christmas and it all looks appalling. I’m tempted to go and remove it but haven’t the courage.
Why don’t they remove the cellophane wrapping round the flowers then at least they would rot away. As for the helmet and cans of beer words fail me.
I presume these thieving travellers think they are showing “respect” to the dead man. If it acts as a threat to those poor people then I suppose they think that’s a bonus.

petra Wed 11-Apr-18 21:12:18

It took Basildon council 10 years to evict 'travellers' ( that's a joke) from an illegal site called Dale Farm.
What hope to stop them tying up bunches of flowers on a fence.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed that there were no 'men' bearing flowers. Too busy laying crap tarmac drives or 'replacing' dodgy roof tiles.
Thank god there were a few men with balls who ripped the crap down.

Iam64 Wed 11-Apr-18 22:05:16

It's dreadful that the home owner and his wife can't return to their home. I doubt they ever will be able to do so because of possible reprisals from the burglar's family.
Shrines are a long standing tradition amongst the Irish travelling communities.
Laying flowers at the site of accidents or violent deaths isn't against the law. I expect the Police have considered what, if any, laws could be used to prevent the flowers being left. I imagine that women traditionally lay flowers and also that the men are keeping away for strategic reasons ie, to avoid scraps.
I live in hope that the police may find a legal way to prevent the shrines. If it was my fence I'd be angry but as others have said, may feel too intimidated to do anything much other than ask politely "could you take those flowers down from my fence, please"

maryeliza54 Wed 11-Apr-18 22:26:05

I wouldn’t even ask Iam.

MamaCaz Wed 11-Apr-18 22:53:18

Am I right in thinking that the flowers at such 'shrines' are usually in some sort of wrapping paper? Why can't they be classed as litter and immediately be removed by the authorities in this instance?

maryeliza54 Wed 11-Apr-18 23:15:45

The Met have isssed a statement part of which mentions getting the la involved - I wonder if they are thinking this way Mama? It would certainly be less heavy handed.

absent Thu 12-Apr-18 04:49:05

I think the neighbour whose fence has been turned into a "shrine" has removed and thrown down all the flowers, while uttering the word "scumbag" repeatedly.

eazybee Thu 12-Apr-18 09:52:55

The neighbours have a right to be concerned. At present this grieving family are content to battle over laying flowers as they are getting press coverage, but when the attention has passed elsewhere they will return , and pour gloss paint through letter boxes and over parked cars.
This is the favoured method of reprisal where I live, from several long-established 'traveller' families, caught attempting to steal; the youngest recruits obligingly left their fingerprints, which is how they were identified.

glammanana Thu 12-Apr-18 10:33:55

How awful eazybee I can't believe the Police are unable to stop the flowers being fixed on a private house owners fen I can understand how frightened the owner must be.
Lets just hope and prey the family of this burglar have no ideas of taking the funeral procession past/down this Road when the time arrives,they certainly have the brass neck to try something like that.