The damage caused to the Robert Burns Mausoleum – which is within the graveyard at St Michael’s Church – happened on Tuesday evening between 4 pm and 6 pm.
The mausoleum is a significant part of the history of Robert Burns in Dumfries. And given Burns’ status as Scotland’s National Bard, police are hoping for any information about this crime.
The vandalism was discovered by a dog walker early on Wednesday morning.
As our photographs show, one of the glass panel’s at the front of the burial site has been smashed in by what looks to be parts of a brick.
Elsewhere in the graveyard, four headstones have been graffitied on and a supermarket trolley has been dumped on a nearby pathway.
Reacting to the damage to the mausoleum, Nith councillor Malcolm Johnstone yesterday said: “It’s mindless vandalism, it’s absolutely shocking that people could vandalise such an iconic part of Dumfries.
“I don’t understand the mentality behind it. It’s such a shame.
“There has been problems in the past at the cemetery but nothing like this.”
Jane Brown, who is a past president of the Robert Burns World Federation and a well-known Dumfries Burnsian, said: “We should be so proud that Dumfries is the resting place for the most well-known poet in the world, the most loved and revered Scottish son.
“To vandalise his grave in any way is disgusting. Where is the respect?
“Whoever did this would hate anything to happen to their family’s grave.
“People on pilgrimage visit this mausoleum from all over the world as lovers and fanatics of Robert Burns.
“This is really showing Dumfries in a bad light as it is an honour to have his remains here.”
Police are keen to hear from anyone who saw anything untoward in and around the graveyard between these times.
Contact can be made via 101, quoting reference PS-20250325-3232.
