Rothbury residents' anger at Raoul Moat memorial plan
Aug 2 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
PEOPLE living in the village where gunman Raoul Moat killed himself have appealed for his ashes not be scattered in their community.
Reports at the weekend suggested Moat’s friends and family want to scatter his ashes by the riverside in Rothbury, Northumberland, following his cremation today.
The former nightclub bouncer made the village the centre of worldwide attention last month when he went in hiding in the countryside there after shooting his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, killing her new boyfriend Chris Brown and then attacking PC David Rathband.
Moat was eventually cornered by police at the riverside, shooting himself after a six-hour stand off with police.
In the days after, floral tributes to Moat were laid at the spot where he died, sparking anger among villagers keen to move on from the episode. A number of the tributes were removed by people living in Rothbury.
Last night, Steven Bridgett, who represents the village on Northumberland County Council, said: “If they do decide to come up here, I think it is a silly thing, to be honest.
“I think most people in the village want to forget about what happened with Mr Moat, they do not want to be reminded and they certainly do not want him memorialised in this village.
“If there is a possibility they are going to do this, it could end up bringing more idiots to the village to find out where he died, where his ashes are scattered. To be honest, I would not encourage it.”
Moat’s friend Tony Laidler, 35, of Gateshead, was quoted in reports as saying: “The riverside spot where Raoul met his end was his favourite place, somewhere he would always visit while alive.
“We’ve had discussions about where we would sprinkle his ashes and that seems the most sensible.
“It isn’t meant to be a provocative gesture to upset the police. It’s just somewhere Raoul always felt at peace until he met his violent end.”
He told The Journal last night that a decision on the matter would be left to Raoul Moat’s brother Angus.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “We do not have any details about what Raoul Moat’s family are planning to do with his remains.
“That is a private matter for Raoul’s Moat family.”
Moat’s funeral will be held today at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle, less than a mile from his house in Fenham, Newcastle. He is being cremated to avoid ghouls paying homage to the ex-bouncer.
