Two teenagers held over death of Oldham 'ashes' grandmother

27 November 2011, 07:26 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Two boys - aged 14 and 17 - are being questioned by police on suspicion of murder after the suspected mugging of a grandmother from Oldham. 

Nellie Geraghty, 79-years-old, was found in the alleyway leading from Elizabeth Grove to Kershaw St in Shaw at shortly before midday on Thursday 24 November 2011.

Her handbag was missing. The strap was still in Nellie's hand.

She was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital with serious head injuries but she sadly died at about midnight on Friday 25 November 2011.

In a statement, the family said: “Nellie GERAGHTY was born in the Shaw area on the 8th June 1932. She had two brothers and one sister. Their mother died in 1954, father in 1958 and Nellie assumed the role of mum to her younger sister. By this time Nellie had already met her husband Frank and they worked in the cotton mills.

“Frank moved onto working in maintenance for the Oldham co-operative bus company and Nellie went onto cleaning in local schools. They raised 4 children.

“Nellie is much loved and will always be remembered by all her friends and family. We have lost the best mum in the world, the best sister, grandmother, auntie and friend a person could ever have.

“The world would be a better place if there were more people like you. Heaven will be blessed with your presence. Our sad loss is heavens gain.

“We will miss you terribly, until we meet again, my mum, my sister my friend rest in peace.