Crosses removed from graves of psychiatric patients by vandals

The HSE said that crosses identifying the remains of psychiatric hospital patients were removed from a thousand graves by vandals.

The disclosure follows an appeal from the descendant of a patient of St Loman’s Hospital, in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, who wants the crosses returned.

Julianne Clarke made the plea in an interview on the Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday. She also revealed she had traced her great-grandmother, Julia Caffrey-Leonard, to the institution.