Keepsakes removed from graves

A heartbroken husband whose wife died just five months after their wedding has been left "devastated" after flowers and treasured keepsakes were removed from her South Staffordshire grave by church officials.

Bernard O'Mahoney, aged 47, found flowers, ornaments and pebbles he had collected from wife Emma's favourite places had been taken from her memorial at St Nicholas Church in Codsall. The 26-year-old died in his arms from flu two years ago.

Mr O'Mahoney, formerly of Arps Road, Codsall, visits the grave every other day and made the discovery on Valentine's Day.

The author, who now lives in Harborne, Birmingham, said today: "I'm heartbroken, absolutely devastated. They told me they had to remove them under new rules but we have enough legislation in life and it shouldn't be that way in death.

"I know we have to have rules but we're not talking about 10ft-high statues here – it's all about discretion."

A note attached to Mrs O'Mahoney's grave read: "An item has been removed (and kept safe) because it is not permitted by churchyard regulations – please contact the church to retrieve it."

Mr O'Mahoney said keepsakes, including a wedding-themed Bugs Bunny figurine along with some from other graves, were being stored in a wheelbarrow in a shed.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. It was full of precious keepsakes like family photographs and crosses.

"There was one old lady who was sobbing with grief because it was her late husband's birthday and they'd cleared his grave."

Gavin Drake, director of communications for the Bishop and Diocese of Lichfield, said today anyone wanting to have such items in a Church of England graveyard needed permission from a judge.

He said the mementoes were removed from St Nicholas following a new push to enforce regulations.

He said: "We are sorry Mr O'Mahoney is so distressed by the regulations, however, there are ways of getting permission for the items.

"We are not dictating how people grieve – we want to help people grieve."