Man jailed over IRA memorial theft bid
A man has been jailed for 18 weeks for attempting to steal a metal plaque which formed part of a memorial to the victims of an IRA bomb in Warrington, England.
Spartakas Grachauskas, aged 25, was spotted on CCTV trying to take part of the tribute to victims of the 1993 attack.
The plaque formed part of the River of Life memorial.
However, police are still searching for a thief who stole a second plaque from the site in a separate robbery.
The memorial plaque – which had the names of two children who were killed – was taken from a wall sometime between 20 April and 5 May.
Tim Parry, 12, and three-year-old Johnathan Ball were killed when two small bombs exploded within minutes in a crowded shopping street in the Cheshire town on 20 March 1993. Fifty-four other people were injured.
Tim died at the scene of the IRA bomb, while Johnathan died from his injuries five days later.
PC Graham Davies of Cheshire Police said: “We do not know exactly when the plaque was taken, but would appeal to anyone who has any information in relation to the theft to come forward.
“This plaque forms part of a memorial and is of great significance to the town. It is upsetting for people to see that the plaque has been taken.”
