The robbery of an elderly man while he was visiting a family grave in west Belfast has been described as an "absolutely callous and despicable act".
Police are investigating the theft of 'a considerable amount of money' by three men in Milltown cemetery on Tuesday morning.
A police spokesperson confirmed that at 9:30am on Tuesday, the victim was visiting a family grave when he was targeted.
The three men are thought to be aged between 20 and 30.
SDLP west Belfast councillor Paul Doherty described the incident as “despicable” and "absolutely callous".
He said: "People in this community are shocked that anyone could stoop so low as to do something like this.
“I cannot understand how anyone could do something like that, to target and rob an elderly man while he visits the grave of a family member is beyond the comprehension of people here.
"To use a cemetery, where people regularly go to seek moments of quiet reflection and remember those they’ve lost, as a place to take advantage of someone has caused significant hurt and anger."
Police said that after the robbery the suspects left via a cemetery wall, near Sainsbury's, in the Kennedy Shopping Centre.
They have appealed for witnesses.
Mr Doherty added: “My thoughts are with the man targeted in this incident, and I hope he is getting the support he needs following what must have been a very difficult ordeal.
"This is not the first incident in our cemetery recently and I will be liaising with local police about what can be done to keep this area safe for everyone who attends.
"The people who carried out this terrible act must be caught, and we need to make clear that we will not tolerate criminality of this kind in our cemetery, or anywhere else in west Belfast.”
