Thugs destroy grave and smear MUD on picture of Sheffield United fan killed in hit-and-run

A bereaved mother whose young son died in a hit-and-run collision in Rotherham has hit out at the vandals who trashed his grave.
The funeral for Ryan Durkin at Magna. Picture: NSST-18-05-19-Durkin-2The funeral for Ryan Durkin at Magna. Picture: NSST-18-05-19-Durkin-2
The funeral for Ryan Durkin at Magna. Picture: NSST-18-05-19-Durkin-2

Ryan Durkin, who lived in Brinsworth, Rotherham, was hit by a stolen silver BMW in his home village on April 19 last year.

The 15-year-old was taken to Sheffield Children’s Hospital with life threatening injuries but died a week later.

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Pictured is 15-year-old Brinsworth Academy student Ryan Durkin who died after he was struck by a speeding hit-and-run motorist on Brinsworth Lane, Rotherham.Pictured is 15-year-old Brinsworth Academy student Ryan Durkin who died after he was struck by a speeding hit-and-run motorist on Brinsworth Lane, Rotherham.
Pictured is 15-year-old Brinsworth Academy student Ryan Durkin who died after he was struck by a speeding hit-and-run motorist on Brinsworth Lane, Rotherham.
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Now, his heartbroken mother has revealed that Ryan’s gravesite at St George’s Churchyard, in Brinsworth, has sadly been disturbed by vandals who damaged decorative items and smeared dirt on his headstone.

Diane Ball, 52, said: “There was a metal lantern and I used to light a candle when I went. That had been squashed on top so somebody must have banged it with a heavy rock or something. The glass was smashed everywhere.

"There's an etched picture of Ryan on his headstone and they’d smeared his face his face with mud, you could hardly see it. I had to clean that off. They’d been throwing stones at it too because they were all over. There’s damage from those on the headstone. It’s took the surface off it in two places.

"I also had two solar lights on a hook, one was still there but the other had been moved and was stuck in the grass further away.

Ryan Durkin was a massive Sheffield United fanRyan Durkin was a massive Sheffield United fan
Ryan Durkin was a massive Sheffield United fan
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"The lantern, that was bad, but it actually upset me the most that someone had smeared mud on his face.”

Diane says she attends her son’s resting place regularly and during a recent visit on Thursday everything was in its rightful place.

But, when she visited on Sunday morning she was shocked to discover the destruction.

"When I first went I didn’t know what I felt, I just got on with it and cleaned it up,” Diane added. “The more I thought about it though, it just felt really upsetting.

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"Nothing like this has happened before, definitely not to Ryan’s grave. I sometimes sit there for ages and ages, it’s so peaceful.

"I’d just like to know who did it, we’re not likely to find out but it’s worth a try. I don’t know what I’d say to the vandals but I’d urge them to think of the families they affect doing things like this.”

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