Residents in Bootle, Merseyside, are calling for better security at Kirkdale Cemetery after the grave of James Bulger was vandalised on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The incident took place between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM and has caused significant upset throughout the local community.
According to Merseyside Police, the damage involved the decapitation of two marble cherub statues and the theft of a yellow teddy bear. Denise Fergus, James’s mother, was alerted to the damage by a dog walker and described the event as a heartbreaking moment for her family.
In response to the attack, a community fundraiser has collected more than £15,000 to pay for repairs and improve the memorial site. Members of the People from Bootle group have also started to organise their own patrols at the cemetery to support the family and keep watch over the area.
Local residents are now formally asking Liverpool City Council to install permanent cameras at the site to prevent future acts of vandalism. Visitors to the cemetery can expect to see a higher police presence and ongoing restoration work over the coming weeks as the community works to repair the grave.
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