A GRIEVING family say they are distraught after floral tributes left on their loved one’s grave were dumped in a bin.

Much loved Greenock great grandad Tommy McFarlane, 82, passed away on May 27 after battling ill health.

As a touching tribute to Tommy, who was a devoted Morton fan, his family placed blue and white flowers at his grave in Greenock Cemetery following his funeral on June 2.

But seven days later the flowers vanished from his graveside — and his family subsequently found them dumped in a nearby bin.

Tommy’s sister, Sheena Keill, pictured, of Gourock’s Reservoir Road, says the whole family have been left sickened by the cruel act.

She told the Tele: “It’s heartbreaking.

“This has upset the family, as the grave is now sitting there bare with no flowers on it.

“I can’t believe someone could do this.

“It’s bad taste with no thought for anyone’s feelings.

“I just hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else who is grieving.”

Sheena said that the flowers, some of which spelt out ‘dad’ and ‘grandad’, had been placed on Tommy’s grave until the family could scatter his ashes next to his late wife Irene’s.

She added: “My niece Shirley and nephew Ernest had organised the flowers for their dad on behalf of the family, including their brother Gordon and sister Allison.

“We wanted to put the flowers on his grave until his ashes go in.

“I went up to visit his grave as I wanted to take a picture of the flowers to send it to Tommy’s other daughter, Allison, who is on holiday.

“When I got there I was shocked that the flowers were gone.”
When Sheena’s niece Shirley McGregor then went to the cemetery she discovered that flowers stuffed into a bin were in fact her father’s.

Sheena said: “When Shirley phoned me to tell me I was very upset. It was an awful feeling.

“I spoke to the staff and they said there is no way that they would’ve thrown them away, so we don’t know who did this.”

Sheena is now making a wreath for Shirley to put on her dad’s grave.

A spokesman for cemetery owners Inverclyde Council said it is ‘unacceptable’ for someone to remove flowers from a grave.

He said: “It isn’t acceptable for flowers to be removed from a grave for no good reason. 

“We would urge visitors to cemeteries to be mindful that these are the final resting places of people from our community. 

“They are also a place of solemn reflection for families and friends to remember loved ones. 

“If anyone has a concern or question we would urge them to raise it right away with our staff.”