Oldham man jailed for stealing ashes widow's life

OLDHAM MAN JAILED FOR STEALING ASHES WIDOW'S LIFE

A man from Shaw named Mark Royle, aged 37, has received a life prison sentence with a minimum term of 28 years after being convicted of murder, robbery, and manslaughter.

His victim was Nellie Geraghty, a 79-year-old widow, who was found on the ground in Shaw, Oldham, last November, clutching torn remnants of her handbag, which contained her late husband’s ashes.

She later died in hospital from her injuries.

Royle’s trial at Manchester Crown Court saw him plead not guilty to the charges, but he was ultimately found guilty of murder, theft, and a separate robbery in Rochdale two weeks later, involving another woman’s purse.

The court described Royle’s conduct as "cowardly and despicable," with CCTV footage showing him near the scene at the time of the attack.

Evidence indicated that Royle used the stolen funds to buy drugs, and after fleeing the scene, he changed his clothes and abandoned his bicycle in an attempt to avoid capture.

The victim’s family expressed their anguish, emphasizing her bravery in trying to protect her husband’s ashes during the robbery.

Head injuries sustained by Mrs Geraghty were attributed to a kick or stamp, and her husband had passed away years earlier; she carried his remains in her shoulder bag whenever she went out.

Following the incident, community searches failed to locate the ashes, which were never recovered.

Authorities condemned Royle’s violent behavior and his involvement in multiple thefts and attacks.