Fundraiser launched after crucifix 'torched' and gravestones damaged at Scots cemetery
A fundraiser has been launched by a local church after a crucifix was "torched" and gravestones were damaged at a cemetery in East Renfrewshire.
Police launched a probe following reports of vandalism at St Conval's Cemetery on Glasgow Road in Hurlet, Barrhead, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Diocese of Paisley have now set up the fundraiser to pay for the repairs and have donated £15,000 to help families impacted.
A statement to accompany the fundraiser reads: "Following the recent acts of vandalism carried out at St Conval's Cemetery and after many inquiries, the Diocese of Paisley has decided to set up a fund to provide the necessary repairs to the vandalised gravestones. "The Diocese will contribute an initial sum of £15,000 to formally launch the appeal. "All money donated will be distributed to the affected families and used to refurbish the scorched crucifix. We are incredibly grateful for the support and generosity in this difficult time."
You can find out more and donate to the fundraiser here.
On Tuesday a man appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court charged with wilful fire-raising, malicious mischief, breach of the peace and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and admission that weapon was carried with intended use to injure someone.
Grzegorz Strzelecki, of no fixed abode, made no plea, was committed for further examination and remanded in custody. He is set to be back in the dock within the next eight days.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
A Police Scotland spokesperson previously said: "A 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with wilful fire-raising and vandalism at St Conval's Cemetery on Glasgow Road in Hurlet, Barrhead.
"Officers attended after receiving a report of the incident around 8.50am on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
"The man was due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, 30 June, 2025. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."
The Bishop of Paisley, Bishop John Keenan previously said: 'I am saddened and dismayed.
'My thoughts and prayers are with the families, as well as with the whole community of relatives and friends who visit St Conval's and care for the graves of their loved ones so tenderly.'
The bishop added: 'My gratitude goes to the St Conval's staff who maintain the grounds and administer the cemetery.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
24 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Pensioner, 76, charged over suspected 'poisoning' at summer camp
Jonathon Ruben, of Nottingham, has been charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment relating to three boys at the summer camp. A 76-year-old man will appear in court charged with child cruelty offences after children became unwell at a summer camp in Leicestershire. Leicestershire Police said it received a report on Sunday that children at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, had become unwell. Eight children, all boys aged between eight and 11, and an adult, who were taken to hospital as a precaution, have all since been discharged. Jonathon Ruben, of Landmere Lane, Ruddington, Nottingham, has been charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment relating to three boys at the summer camp between July 25 and July 29, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Saturday. This has been an extremely upsetting and shocking moment for the community, and especially for the children and parents most directly affected. Ruben, 76, was originally arrested on Monday evening at a pub on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. Sentencing Council guidelines state that ill treatment of a child can result in a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Leicestershire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its handling of the incident. The force originally said the incident happened on Monday, before amending it to Sunday, and it is still unclear whether officers only responded on Monday, and whether that is why the force has referred itself to the IOPC. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Janine McKinney, chief crown prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the prosecution of a 76-year-old man with child cruelty offences following a police investigation into a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire. 'This decision has been made after reviewing a file of evidence from Leicestershire Police. 'Jonathon Ruben will be charged with three offences of wilful ill treatment of a child relating to three boys. 'This has been an extremely upsetting and shocking moment for the community, and especially for the children and parents most directly affected. 'We would like to remind all concerned that there are now active criminal proceedings against Mr Ruben, and he has the right to a fair trial. 'There must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that may in any way prejudice these proceedings.' Leicestershire Police said the 'owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are independent from those people who use or hire the lodge and are not connected to the incident'. The IOPC said: 'Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC. 'The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police's response to what was later declared a critical incident.'
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Operation Broadcroft: Police Scotland refuse to reveal costs
He said the investigation was looking into claims that a 'very, very senior civil servant - Mr James Hynd - gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry'. When the former First Minister and Alba Party leader died suddenly, aged 69, in North Macedonia in October last year it was not clear if and for how long the police investigation into the matter would continue. But The Herald revealed in June that the investigation was still ongoing. READ MORE: Following our report, this newspaper asked the force under freedom of information legislation details on the cost of the inquiry, how many officers were involved and the date the inquiry began. However, our request for the cost and the number of officers working on the inquiry was refused by Police Scotland on the grounds the force does not have the information "In response to your request, I can advise you that the information sought is not held by Police Scotland and section 17 of the Act therefore applies," Police Scotland told The Herald. "By way of explanation, the total costs relating to any investigation, both relating to the investigation itself and the number of hours involved, are difficult to quantify as the nature of policing means that officers are deployed to wherever their services are most required. "Furthermore, the number of officers required throughout an investigation will fluctuate and officers involved in a particular investigation, or multiple investigations, can be redeployed to other duties at any time, dependant on their skillsets." It continued: "Police Scotland may keep limited records for investigations, which record overtime costs and non-pay costs. These costs do not provide an accurate reflection of the total number of hours spent on an investigation nor do they provide, for the reasons stated above, an accurate cost for an investigation. "The costs do not include, for example, officer hours where that officer would have been on duty anyway and as such are not recorded as a specific expense to a particular investigation." Alex Salmond giving evidence to the Holyrood inquiry into how the Scottish Government handled complaints against him. (Image: PA) The force also refused to release the date the inquiry started on the basis this information could "prejudice" the probe. Outlining its decision, the force's freedom of information officer told The Herald: "The information sought is held by Police Scotland, but I am refusing to provide it in terms of section 16(1) of the Act on the basis that the section 34(1)(b) – Investigations, exemption applies. "Information is considered exempt from disclosure if it has at any time been held by Police Scotland for the purposes of an investigation which may lead to a decision to make a report to the Procurator Fiscal to enable it to be determined whether criminal proceedings should be instituted. The matter you are enquiring about is subject to a live police enquiry. "This exemption is non-absolute and requires the application of the public interest test. I do appreciate that there is a degree of interest in the release of the information you have requested and that to do so would help inform public debate on policing in Scotland. "However, it is essential that any release of information does not interfere or prejudice enquiries or risk such enquiries in the future. To do so would put the enquiries at risk and to do so would be vastly against the public interest. The balance lies in withholding the information requested at this time." The Herald is seeking a review of the decision. READ MORE: [[Alba]] leader Kenny MacAskill, a former [[Scottish Government]] justice secretary, criticised Police Scotland for withholding the information from [[The Herald]]. "Utterly ridiculous and deeply disturbing," he said before making reference to other inquiries around how complaints against Mr Salmond were handled. Last year the Information Commissioner criticised the [[Scottish Government]] relating to a legal battle around freedom of information requests about Irish lawyer James Hamilton's report into Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Hamilton's inquiry was into whether Ms Sturgeon broke the ministerial code when her predecessor Mr Salmond was being investigated for sexual harassment by the Scottish Government. She was not found to have breached the code. "The investigations relating to the Holyrood inquiry and Alex Salmond grow murkier by the hour. "We've a government which was found to have been acting illegally by the court and which has had to be brought to heel by the information commissioner. "Whether it's the redaction of documents or the denial of legitimate information the tale of obfuscation and what appears a cover up continues unabated. "Police Scotland is though independent and separate from government abd openness and transparency are required in this of all cases." Police Scotland has previously given details about the cost of Operation Branchform, the inquiry into the SNP's finances, including when the investigation was ongoing. Operation Branchform ended in March with the inquiry costing the force £2.2million. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period [[Nicola Sturgeon]] resigned as First Minister and [[SNP]] leader in February 2023 and was succeeded by Humza Yousaf. In April that year, Ms Sturgeon's husband and former [[SNP]] Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested. He was later charged by Police Scotland and appeared in court in March this year on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date has yet been given for his second court appearance. During Operation Branchform Ms Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both ended in March with no charges or further action against either. Operation Broadcroft is into evidence given by Mr Hynd, who was the Scottish Government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance at the time, into the Holyrood inquiry in 2020 which probed how the Scottish Government handled complaints of sexual harassment made against Mr Salmond. The former First Minister was later cleared of all of the charges against him in a separate criminal trial. The Court of Session was told in August 2024 that detectives were probing evidence given to the Scottish Parliament inquiry by Mr Hynd, The probe by a committee of MSPs - formally called the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints - concluded in March 2021 that the government investigation into Mr Salmond was 'seriously flawed". During his evidence to the parliamentary inquiry Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including Ms Sturgeon to imprison him. Ms Sturgeon has strongly denied the claim. The Court of Session action was launched by Mr Salmond in November 2023 to seek "significant damages" and compensation for loss of earnings reportedly worth £3 million. The sum would be in addition to the £500,000 that Mr Salmond was awarded in legal costs after a judge said in 2019 that the government investigation into the allegations against him had been 'unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair" and also "tainted with apparent bias". Mr Salmond's lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session last August that the Police Scotland investigation into Mr Hynd was called Operation Broadcroft and was being headed by a senior detective. Mr Dangerfield told the court hearing at the time: 'I can advise that the ongoing Police Scotland investigation is named Operation Broadcroft. It is led by senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Graham Lannigan." Mr Hynd was responsible for drawing up the government's policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers - the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. The Scottish Government has previously said would not comment on a live police investigation or on individual staffing matters. Police Scotland was approached for comment.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Mum on run from religious drug cult in US wins battle to keep kids in Scotland
A mother who fled to Scotland from America to escape a religious drugs cult has won a court custody battle over her two children. A mum has won a legal battle in Scotland's highest court to protect her two young children from a religious drug cult. The unnamed woman fled to Scotland from the USA with them 20 months ago to escape the Santo Daime movement of which she was once a member. Her former husband launched a legal action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh last month (July) accusing his wife of abducting their children. However one of Scotland's most senior judges Lady Tait this week ruled that the youngsters - aged nine and seven - should remain in Scotland. The father, who was also unnamed, sought the return of his children on the basis that they had been unlawfully removed from the USA. The court was told that the couple married in 2016 and divorced seven years later. They met through a religious movement named Santo Daime, described in court as a religious drug cult involving the use of the psychoactive drug Ayahuasca. The mother claimed she was told to give her baby the substance before she started breast feeding. She left the cult in August 2020 and underwent therapy to recover. The children were then brought to Scotland. Witnesses including teachers, family friends, and others said the children were settled here and did not want to go back to the USA. In October 2024, the dad applied to the Supreme Court for the State of New York for an order granting him custody of the children. The court granted the order in January 2025 as well as a warrant for the mum's arrest. However in a 29 page judgment published this week Lady Tait found in the mother's favour. She added:"On the evidence before the court, I am satisfied that if the respondent (the mother) returned with the children to the US, there is a grave risk that she would be arrested and imprisoned and the children would be removed from her care and placed into the care of the petitioner (the father). "To be removed from the respondent's care, even for a short period, and in the context of having been removed from their settled lives in Scotland, would put the children into a situation which they should not be expected to tolerate. "The available evidence is that the children have established good and settled lives in Scotland. "A swift return is now impossible. The children clearly object to being returned to the US and being uprooted from their lives here." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The court was told that the children were born in the USA and lived there until December 2023 and have not had contact with their dad in almost two years. Their mother, described in courts as an artist, was also born in the US but has UK citizenship through her parents. Throughout her childhood, she frequently visited family members in Scotland. The couple met in 2015 through the Santo Daime movement which the mum described as a religious drug cult. She said members are required to consume Ayahuasca which contains the hallucinogenic drug Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and are also subjected to control from more senior members. She claimed Santo Daime leaders said her baby should taste the 'medicine' before her breast milk to which she complied. The mother said she gave a lot of money to Santo Daime and would do whatever she was told. She also claimed her husband was abusive and controlling and wouldn't allow her to turn on the heating in winter although they had young children. She further claimed he had psychotic episodes and believed he was Jesus Christ. For a time he became fixated on their oldest child not being his. As a result she became fearful that she could not protect the children from their father and the Santo Daime movement if they remained in the USA. However the husband, a delicatessan manager, said he was no longer involved in Santo Daime and accepted that the children should not participate though his mother and brothers are still members. He denied believing he was Jesus Christ or threatening or controlling behaviour. Santo Daime was founded in the 1930s in Brazil. Ceremonies are typically several hours long where Ayahuasca is then drunk. The substance which is made from vines and plants is illegal in the UK because it contains DMT a Class A drug.
