A ginormous marble memorial to a bare-knuckle boxer that is fitted with a solar-powered jukebox and life-size statues has enraged council officials.
Britain's biggest headstone pays tribute to Willy Collins, also known as Big Willy and the King of Sheffield., who died aged 49.
The 37-tonne structure features a solar-powered jukebox, two life-size statues of Collins and a stone seat engraved with the word 'king', all made with solid Carrara marble imported from Italy.
It is adorned by four Irish flags, depictions of Jesus Christ, and lights up in LED lights that change colours.
Sheffield Council says it was built without permission and are now considering their "next steps".
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Willy Collins
Dad-of-nine Collins died in Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, in July 2020 after collapsing on a family holiday while celebrating his wife's birthday.
Heartbroken Kathleen paid tribute to the 49-year-old, after a bleeding ulcer in his stomach burst and caused a haemorrhage.
She said Willy was the "love of her life" and she has been left devastated by his death.
Kathleen met Willy when she was 11 and revealed how he told her then how he was going to marry her.
They tied the knot six years later when she was 17 and enjoyed over 30 years of marriage before his sudden death which shattered the Collins family.
Kathleen said: "He was the love of my life and our children and grandchildren are devastated.
"He was the King of Sheffield and was very respected. He was very well-known and was a bare-knuckle boxer but was more of a peacemaker.
"I always used to say he was smooth in the middle but rough around the edges -that's just what he was."
He had moved to Sheffield from Ireland as a child in 1980 and raised his sprawling family in Pitsmoor.
One of 16, he has about 400 nieces and nephews - who have now vowed to fight council officials.
The bare-knuckle-boxer is thought to be buried in the UK’s largest private grave - alongside other family members in the Roman Catholic section of Sheffield’s Shiregreen cemetery.
Several members of the Collins family are buried there, and there is even a paper globe at the entrance with the words, "Collins Way".
Willy's distraught daughter has hit out at the council's claims and hired a security firm to protect the memorial
Furious Mary told the Sun: "I do not understand why they would take against this tribute to my father.
"Any attempt to have us take this down would be fought legally as it would be a blatant matter of racism.
"The Council knew what we were doing. They signed it off. The footings were down for months and it took the builders two weeks to construct the headstone so they had plenty of chances to raise objections.
"I have read peoples’ comments about it and many of them are vile and racist and are just using this as an excuse to have a go at our community.
"It’s not even the tallest monument in the cemetery. There is one to the first Bishop of Sheffield that is taller than this."
One of his nieces, Nan Maughan, 26, added: "It would be absolutely outrageous if the family were asked to take it down. It is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man."
The controversial monument sits in the Roman Catholic section of Sheffield’s Shiregreen cemetery.
Several other plots are taken up by the Collins family and there is even a paper globe at the entrance with the words, "Collins Way".
This morning Sheffield City Council said they would discuss the matter with the family.
Cllr Alison Teal, Executive Member for Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Wellbeing, Parks and Leisure: "Sheffield City Council approved plans for a memorial, however, the plans which were submitted and approved differ from the memorial now in place.
"This was not fully appreciated until after the structure was fully unveiled.
"We have reached out to the family and intend to discuss changes which need to be made in order to satisfy the cemetery rules and take into consideration, other cemetery users.
"It would not be appropriate to discuss the details further as this is a sensitive matter and we wish to speak with the family fully in the coming days."
Last year, hundreds of mourners lined the streets for his funeral, as a monster truck carried the gold-plated funeral to the church, before it was carried into the cemetery in a horse-drawn carriage.
His family trailed behind in 30 Rolls Royces, while others travelled in a convoy of quad bikes and mopeds.
After his death, Kathleen said her husband would finally be reunited with brother Anthony again after he was murdered 20 years ago.
Both men were involved in a violent attack at the Afro Caribbean Club, Spital Hill when drug dealer Mark Lloyd Roberts, from Burngreave Road, returned to the club after an argument and stabbed the brothers.
Willy recovered from serious chest and lung injuries but Anthony died from the injuries to his heart.
In a Facebook post, Kathleen said: 'They are finally back together again.
'Two legends back together again,'
'I couldn't be happier to know he is with his baby brother, who he loved very much and spoke about every day.'
