Thursday, 18 August 2016 - 13:00
Brabant grave of deceased Ajax fan desecrated for sixth time
The grave of young Ajax fan Michael van Luik was vandalized in the cemetery of the Lucia church in Mierlo sometime between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. According to his sister in law Eveline van Luik, who posted photos of the desecrated grave on Facebook, this is the sixth time its happened in four months.
Michael died 11 years ago in a scooter accident at the age of 17. Sometime during Monday night vandals came and knocked over flower pots, picture frames and candle holders that stood at his grave. They also got candle wax on his tombstone.
"We have no idea who's behind it. Michael had many friends, nice friends, and no hatred towards others. The same goes for my husband and in-laws", Eveline said to newspaper AD. "Yet it seems that this is addressed personally towards him. It always happens at his grave, while the cemetery is a protected area." The family again reported the vandalism to the police, in the hopes that the perpetrator will be caught. "If you do this sort of thing, you have a problem. Such a person does not only deserve punishment, but also needs help."
Jacques Kloeg, pastor at the church, thinks that young football players in the neighborhood may be behind it - an Ajax logo is on Michael's headstone. "Behind the graveyard football is played at night. Sometimes the ball goes over the wall of the cemetery and so the boys end up there.
The pastor regrets the vandalism. "Very unpleasant for these people. The actions do not seem focused on the grave, but on the tings there. We keep an eye on the cemetery as much as possible and send suspicious people away. That also applies to Pokemon hunters who come to the Calvarieberg on the cemetery."