HEARTLESS thugs who torched a dead woman’s home have left her family devastated and searching for answers.

Maria Wylie died on March 4 this year aged 97 and her Mount Vernon home that she lived in since 1960, was put up for sale.

But last Wednesday, vandals smashed windows of the semi-detached property, before returning the following day, pouring petrol over the front door, and setting it on fire.

Glasgow Times:

Jennifer McGeoch, Maria’s daughter, said: “Fortunately, it was pouring at the time and the blaze did not catch.

“The neighbours next door have a baby, they could have set the whole place on fire. It could have been a disaster.

“Why attack a dead lady's house that was up for sale? I don’t know why anyone would do such a thing.”

Glasgow Times:

Maria, who is originally from Greece, previously had her holiday home in Mati destroyed by the second-deadliest wildfire event in the 21st century.

The 2018 Attica wildfires killed 102 people and destroyed thousands of homes, including Maria’s where her and her husband spent their summers after retiring.

Jennifer was on holiday with her grandchildren when she got a phone call from police informing her of what had happened last week.

Glasgow Times:

The 72-year-old added: “It was quite a shock to hear that someone tried to torch my mum’s house just before I went to bed.

“I really couldn’t get my head around it. “My husband and son went over and stayed in sleeping bags that night to protect it.

“My mum’s holiday house in Greece burnt down in the terrible fires in 2018. And now someone tries to burn down her house here. Really incredible.”

Glasgow Times:

Jennifer, who described her mum as a good person and very hardworking, is struggling to come to terms with what’s happened.

She said: “We really don’t know why anyone would do it.

“My mum was liked by everyone – her and my dad ran a fruit shop together in Shettleston called The Orchard.

“It would be an unbelievable shock for her to find out about this.

"I was absolutely shocked – it’s not something you’d expect. Here’s me trying to sell the family home after my mum passing away and it’s been torched.

“What’s going on in this world?”

Police Scotland confirmed that enquiries are ongoing into the incident.

A spokesman added: “Police were called around 6.20pm on Thursday, August 27, following the report of a wilful fire-raising at a property in Rylands Drive, Glasgow.

“Anyone who has any information surrounding the incident is asked to contact police on 101.”