Family's shock as memorial for four-year-old stolen twice

Mabon Gwyn Lewis' grandmother Jackie says the family cannot understand who would steal his memorial

The family of a four-year-old boy who died say they are shocked and upset after his memorial was stolen for the second time.

Mabon Gwyn Lewis, from Anglesey, died in 2023 following a rare heart condition.

A memorial to him was placed in one of his favourite places in Trearddur Bay but has recently disappeared.

Speaking to Radio Cymru's Post Prynhawn programme, Mabon's grandmother, Jackie Lewis, said the family couldn't understand who could do this.

Mabon - pictured with his dad - died aged four following a rare heart condition in May 2023

Ms Lewis said the original memorial was installed in May 2024, but was stolen within two months.

After hearing that the plaque was gone, Arwel Hughes, undertaker of funerals in Llangefni, contacted the family to create a new one and placed it in concrete, in the same place in November.

The family said they were "horribly upset" after hearing that "someone went to great lengths" to steal the memorial for the second time, said Ms Lewis.

"It was a terrible thing for the family," he said.

"Elsi, his sister, and his mother and father were going there to see the plaque and just to have a word with Mabon."

This is the second time the memorial to honour Mabon's life has been stolen

"We as a family are very upset and just can't understand who can do this and what was the reason behind it because the second plaque was set in concrete and was not buried there.

"So someone has gone to a lot of trouble. There was no fence around the place either so they must have gone over dunes to get to the place, over the fence and do this - it makes someone feel numb and low."

Mabon's grandmother described him as a "lovable, loving boy who wanted to be friends with everyone".

"He was so happy, he was into everything, he wanted to do everything. He was a terribly clever boy - and he loved being with his sister."

He loved visiting Trearddur Bay before his last treatment.

The family decided after he died that it was "a nice place to have something to remember Mabon".

Elsi, Mabon's sister, frequently visited the memorial to "talk to Mabon" with family

There are already plans for another memorial to Mabon, with Mr Hughes having created a new plaque.

The RNLI and the community council have offered to help, with friends also wanting to raise money to have a lasting memory for Mabon.

"We don't want to let this person win," said Ms Lewis.

"And fair play to the RNLI, they have contacted about a bench in Trearddur Bay.

Ms Lewis said Mabon's mother, Gemma, also wants to make a garden to remember Mabon but also for other parents who have lost children.

"So they can go somewhere quiet and remember them and remember the time they had with them. And I think that's a great idea," she added.