THE FAMILY of a young man who was buried just two weeks ago in Enniscorthy have spoken of their outrage over his grave being desecrated.

Wayne Bryan (26) of The Moyne was laid to rest on January 5, having passed away suddenly days before.

His family, including his daughter Stacey, mother Ann and siblings Melissa, Darren, Jade and Graham faced heartbreak all over again last week when they realised that his lovingly-decorated grave had been vandalised.

Mr. O’Bryan’s sister Melissa told The Echo: “My brother was up visiting the grave at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 7 p.m on Monday evening and left with everything as normal. A friend was later visiting his wife’s grave, at about 11 p.m, and he noticed that Wayne’s grave was covered in broken flowers – everything was smashed.”

She said the friend tried to get in touch with the family, but when he failed to do, he rang the Gardai immediately.

A neighbour visited the Bryan family the following the day to tell them of the news and they raced to the graveyard to survey the damage, calling the Gardai on their way.

“When we go there, we met with the Gardai and had a look at what the vandals had done,” Ms. Bryan said.

The wreaths of flowers on Mr. Bryan’s grave, which spelled out ‘Wayne’, ‘Son’ and ‘Daddy’ were mangled and scattered around, while the temporary cross was nowhere to be found.

“We were just disgusted,” his sister said. “When the Gardai left we tried to tidy up the flowers in black bags, we rang the caretaker who said he would put more soil around the grave and we rang Crosbie’s Funeral Home, who said they would do up another cross for us.”

Mr. Bryan’s devastated mother Ann said she was crushed by the latest blow following her young son’s unexpected death just over two weeks ago.

“It’s just unreal,” she commented. “Animals wouldn’t do this. Wayne’s grave was the only one targeted. It’s hard to take.”

Full story and photos in this week’s Echo