Please find dad’s stolen ashes

APPEAL: Nellie Geraghty’s daughter Christine Brierley (left) and sister Maureen Barrow

Murdered Nellie’s family in emotional plea
AN emotional plea for help has been made by the heartbroken family of pensioner Nellie Geraghty.

The 79-year-old great-grandmother died after being found unconscious after being mugged in the street on Thursday. She was still clasping her broken bag strap when she was found but the bag, containing her late husband’s ashes, had gone.

Nellie suffered severe head injuries after being attacked in an alleyway near her Elizabeth Grove home, in Shaw and died around midnight on Friday at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Her sister, Maureen Barrow (67), said she “laid down her life” to save her husband Frank’s ashes, which had been by her side for 17 years.

Despite the emotional turmoil of the murder investigation, the family is calling on the people of Oldham to help find the ashes - to fulfil Nellie’s dying wish.

Maureen said: “That has always been our fear, that one day her bag would be stolen because basically she wouldn’t have wanted to carry on living unless he was there. This is why she put up such a fight.

“We just want the ashes back, so that she can be cremated, with Frank with her, as she asked.

“We can’t believe anybody could be so cruel. How could people do this?

“To the people in Shaw, we ask that they please check their gardens, outhouses, sheds, ginnels, bins, anywhere. We need your help to convict the thug or thugs who have done this to Nellie.

“They know where the ashes are and what they have been doing with them. Please get them back to us somehow by phoning us, phoning the police, leaving them somewhere where someone will find them.”

Two boys, aged 14 and 17, were originally arrested on suspicion of robbery but were later questioned on suspicion of murder. They have been bailed until January 9, 2012.

Mr and Mrs Geraghty, both cotton mill workers, were married for 42 years before his death. They had raised four children, though their son died of cancer five years ago.

As well as her children, Nellie leaves four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mrs Geraghty carried Frank’s ashes in a box inside a blue velvet drawstring bag she had hand-stitched herself. A close friend spotted her walking towards the alleyway on the way to a community centre lunch in Kershaw Street at around 11.50am on Thursday. Only four minutes later a passer-by had made the emergency call.

The area remained cordoned off into the weekend as the nation’s media descended on the usually quiet cul-de-sac.

Speaking about the moment she heard of the attack Maureen, with Nellie’s daughter, Christine Brierley, by her side, said: “I felt numb and shocked, until we saw her lying in the hospital bed we didn’t believe it was really our sister and mother there. It was just unreal.

“She’s a busy, bubbly and private person as well. Everybody you speak to has nothing but kind words to say to us about her.”

The race is now on to trace the black bag, also thought to contain £200 in cash, so Nellie can be cremated with her husband and their ashes scattered together.

Supt Catherine Hankinson, of Oldham police, said: “The ashes obviously have huge emotional value, we have no idea where the bag is so would urge anyone who may have information to get in touch or anyone that may have seen anything around the time of the incident.

“Nellie has obviously held on to that bag for dear life and that lead to her death.

“We want people to anticipate where the bag may have been left. It could have been thrown into a garden or a wheelie bin.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161-856 8951 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.