Silent tribute as Nellie makes final journey

A poignant silence fell on Shaw as locals paid their respects to Nellie during her funeral procession

STREETS fell silent and Shaw came to a standstill as locals paid their respects to pensioner Nellie Geraghty.

In a show of solidarity, shoppers stood side by side on Market Street to witness the funeral procession of the 79-year-old, who died after being mugged in an alleyway near her home.

Making a special detour on the way to Oldham Crematorium the funeral party moved slowly down the main street as locals braved the miserable weather to pay their respects. Only the sound of the moving tyres on the road could be heard as the bustling shopping street fell silent.

Floral tributes rested atop the coffin, acting as a reminder of the grieving family behind a very public outpouring of emotion.

The day was made all the more heartbreaking by the knowledge that her dying wish, to be cremated with husband Frank’s ashes, would for ever remain unfulfilled.

It was on Thursday, November 24, that passers-by found the great-grandma lying in a ginnel near her Elizabeth Grove home. She was still clutching the strap of the handbag she had fought so hard to save. Her sister, Maureen Barrow, said she had “laid down her life” to hold on to her late husband’s ashes she had carried with her since his death 17 years ago.

The shocking tale of her death prompted the local community to come together as never before, with a public-spirited Facebook group managing to mobilise a 150-strong search team to look for the missing handbag. But despite extensive searches by police and locals the bag has not been found in the four weeks since Nellie’s death.

Yesterday, as family and friends attended a service at the crematorium, those touched by Nellie’s death signed a book of condolence at computer store Bits and Bytes in the centre.

Business owner Neil George said: “People have been in to sign the book for the family. Most of them are saying what a complete waste of a life this was. People want to see whoever did this punished.”

Locals also paid tribute via Facebook, stating that their thoughts were with Nellie’s family on the day of her funeral.

Det Chief Insp Joanne Rawlinson, leading the investigation into her death, said: “While the public response has been a credit to the people of Shaw and beyond, we now urge anyone who may have any knowledge on where the handbag or the ashes are to contact us.

“Not only would this information still be appreciated by the family, it would be vital for our ongoing investigation.”




A 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed until February 14, 2012. Two boys, aged 14 and 17, also arrested on suspicion of murder, are on bail until January 9.