Headstones belonging to children tragically killed in the Glen Cinema disaster have been toppled.
The memorial stones were laid flat as part of council safety operations in Renfrewshire cemeteries.
A number of grave sites belonging to some of the 71 children killed in the tragic incident which shook Paisley in 1929 have been deemed a ‘hazard’ at Hawkhead Cemetery.
The council has now dug up the headstones - some of which could be more than 90 years old - and laid them flat as part of inspections being carried out adhering to Scottish Government guidance.
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Among the headstones which have been laid flat are that of Thomas Jackson, who was three years old when he died, eight-year-old Margaret Gibson, John Cochran Bell, who was ten and Caroline Campbell Brain, who died aged seven.
The headstones will now remain this way unless repairs are paid for by the lair holder of the sites. However, the council said it will ensure they are “sensitively preserved”.
It is not known if the lair holders of the children’s burial sites are still alive, given how long they have been there.
The Express previously revealed that potentially thousands of headstones across nine cemeteries could be removed as part of area-wide inspections.
Headstones which are considered a ‘hazard’ are being laid flat on the graves.
The actions of the council were previously criticised as ‘disrespectful’, as loved ones were not being informed prior to the headstones being taken down.
Photos showed ‘hazard’ notices posted on hundreds of graves at Hawkhead Cemetery, with some of the headstones even laid face down, meaning inscriptions are no longer visible.
The Express asked Renfrewshire Council if it would repair the graves, given the significance they have to the Paisley community, but it would not confirm if it would pay for repairs.
Every year since 2009, a poignant memorial is held to remember the children lost in what is still today considered one of Scotland’s greatest tragedies.
It happened when a smoking film canister caused a panic during a packed children’s matinee with more than 600 youngsters present.
The main escape doors were locked and only opened inwards, leading to a fatal crush.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for visitors and our staff in Renfrewshire cemeteries and churchyards, with all work carried out as respectfully as possible.
“The Scottish Government published guidance in 2019 to ensure memorial safety following the tragic death of a child in a Scottish cemetery and, following this, we introduced a policy for the inspection of memorial monuments and headstones and any dangerous or unsafe memorials are laid flat to ensure the safety of all staff and visitors.
“We recognise the sensitivities and importance of these graves and we will continue to ensure they are managed respectfully and sensitively preserved while we carry out the required safety measures.
“It is unfortunately not possible to reach lair owners in advance of an inspection, but marker notices and signage at each cemetery is in place to provide lair holders with information to contact us for details on how to ensure their memorial meets the safety standards.”
