Vandals steal trees from MP's memorial grove

Trees were stolen from the Karl Chircop Memorial Grove in Sta Luċija, an action condemned by both the local council and the Labour Party.

Mayor Frederick Cutajar said the trees, about 10, including one planted by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat, were found missing on Tuesday morning from the grove overlooking Wied Garnaw, which was inaugurated last April.

"We will replace them immediately," he said when contacted.

The local council said the vandals failed to realise the significance of the grove and the act hurt the feelings of many people, a feeling shared by the Labour Party.

Dr Chircop, a former Labour MP, 43, passed away in a London hospital last October after suffering a brain haemorrhage in August.

His widow, Adriana, said that, although some trees were stolen, his memory was still alive in people's hearts. "Wherever I go, people still show me his mobile phone number still saved in their handsets, his keychain or his business card still in their wallet. They recount some little moment that connects them with his memory," she said.