A Highland community has hit out after its cherished cathedral was reduced to a “bomb site” following a vandalism attack.
The break-in and attack on 13th-century Dornoch Cathedral on Friday night forced a wedding on Saturday to be switched to another venue as police forensic experts were called in to investigate.
Its minister, the Rev Susan Brown, who married pop star Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle and christened their son, Rocco, at the cathedral, was heartbroken by the incident.
Entry was made by forcing the vestry door. The office was then smashed up, a fire extinguisher let off, several windows broken, protective panels around the cathedral organ kicked in and cash stolen. Strangely, a new Steinway piano had been uncovered, but was unscathed.
Mrs Brown said: “I was almost physically sick when I looked at the mess because it seemed so wanton. You can understand people stealing money, although not approve of it, but understand them needing cash. But why do they need to trash everything in the process?
“Thankfully, everybody has pulled together. A couple in the congregation organised hymn sheets and the Episcopal Church was happy to let us use their building for the wedding.”
Session clerk Edward McDonald, who had locked the cathedral at 5.30pm on Friday, discovered the damage when he reopened the main door just after 9am on Saturday.
He said: “I was shocked to see it. I thought it had been hit by a bomb. It’s senseless vandalism. The damage is quite considerable. The police were there all morning.
“It’s been a pretty traumatic experience to see such a mess. I would think we’ll have to get an industrial firm of cleaners.
“You just wonder why it’s maybe not happened before, there are so many louts going about.”
In addition to rearranging venues, Mrs Brown had to call the local registrar to obtain replacement legal papers to enable the wedding to go ahead. They and even the order of service papers had been taken.
Undeterred, Mary Macleod and Andy Stewart, from Hopeman in Moray, were wed by Mrs Brown at the royal burgh’s nearby St Finbar’s Church. Yesterday’s morning service was switched from the cathedral to the west church hall.
Resident and former Highland councillor, Duncan Allan, who lives near the cathedral, said: “The desecration and vandalism is an appalling event. The perpetrators should be caught and punished.”
A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said officers were following a positive line of inquiry and appealed for anyone with information to call Dornoch police station on 01862 810 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.