BARRHEAD, Scotland (LifeSiteNews) — A vandal has been charged after setting a crucifix on fire and smashing dozens of headstones at St. Conval’s Cemetery in Scotland on Sunday morning.
Police announced on June 30 that a 39-year-old man, later identified as Grzegorz Strzelecki, was charged with smashing 40 gravestones at St. Conval’s Cemetery, the cemetery for the Diocese of Paisley, and setting the cemetery’s large wooden crucifix on fire on June 29. Since the attack, locals have expressed their outrage at the vandalism carried out where their relatives are buried.
Bishop John Keenan of the Paisley Diocese condemned and expressed his sadness at the “senseless vandalism” and “destructive violence” caused by the vandal in a statement.
“I am saddened and dismayed by this senseless vandalism and the destructive violence behind it. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have had headstones attacked, 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,” Keenan wrote in a statement.
“My gratitude goes to the St. Conval’s staff who maintain the grounds and administer the cemetery and who now face the distressing task of repairing and making safe damaged graves while comforting distraught families,” the bishop added.
READ: Tabernacle left exposed during Catholic church demolition symbolizes widespread abandonment of God
Strzelecki was charged with willful fire raising, malicious mischief, being in possession of an offensive weapon, and breaching the peace. He made no plea during his first court appearance at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday.
Sancte Familia Media emphasized in an X post that this was not simply an act of vandalism but one of blasphemy.
🚨 PAISLEY SACRILEGE
A 39-year-old man has been charged after gravestones were smashed and a crucifix set on fire at St Conval’s Cemetery.Not vandalism — blasphemy.
🙏 Respond with prayer & reparation.
✝️ Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord…#StConvals #Paisley #Catholic pic.twitter.com/mLQfHf5fcu— Sancta Familia Media (@SanctaFamiliaTV) June 30, 2025
Local residents, many of whose deceased relatives are buried at St. Conval’s, were also outraged by the sacrilegious act.
“What kind of lowlife, evil, illiterate scum is walking this earth, to desecrate graves, destroy babies headstones, smash the heads of angels and burn and smash crosses and Catholic symbols at St Convals Cemetery,” one woman with family buried in the cemetery wrote on Facebook.
A Glasgow man has set up a GoFundMe to help families pay for repairs to their loved one’s graves. Additionally, a sculptor from Forget Me Not Memorials has offered to repair the desecrated headstones for free, and if they’re beyond repair, he is offering 50 percent off a new stone.
In recent years, Scotland has seen several anti-Catholic acts of vandalism. In 2019, anti-Catholic graffiti, which included the sentiment “F*** the Pope,” was found spray-painted on a bus shelter outside Holy Family Catholic Church in Mossend. In 2021, a Scottish Catholic priest was assaulted with a glass bottle as he quietly prayed inside St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Just two days later, an arsonist set fire to St. Simon’s Catholic parish, the third oldest Catholic church in Glasgow.
READ: Catholic church burns down just 2 days after priest attacked
Photos credited to David McLoone/LifeSiteNews
