Melbourne punk outfit Scab Eater have denied that they played any part in the desecration of a war memorial in the Wollongong suburb of Corrimal, after the words “Scab Eater – No tears for dead soldiers” was found written on the memorial over the weekend.

According to the Illawarra Mercury, Corrimal RSL sub-branch vice-president Neil McLean discovered the damage on Saturday morning. Scab Eater had played a gig at the nearby Corrimal Hotel on Friday night and it didn’t take long before social media began making accusations.

The monument had apparently been vandalised just a day before the club’s annual ANZAC Sunday memorial. “I think the vandals are just the dregs of the earth to tell the honest truth. There are no words for them,” Mr McLean told the Illawarra Mercury.

However, in a statement shared by the organisers of Brisbane music festival Total Attack via Facebook, the band have denied allegations that they were responsible for the desecration while announcing that they have pulled out of Total Attack and “any other related shows”.

“This is due to a graffiti incident at an ANZAC memorial that occurred in Corrimal over the weekend,” reads a statement from the band, in which the blame “a single individual” for the “heartless” vandalism.

“Scab Eater would like to state that they recognize the history of ANZAC and conscription service in Australia, and that although the Australian military has a bloody and imperial legacy, fallen soldiers are just as much victims of war as any other form of casualty.”

“The ignorant and heartless sentiments on the memorial were the action of a single individual which collectively the band does not stand behind. The structural damage to the granite and additional broken glass was not caused by any member of Scab Eater.”

“Scab Eater apologize for any distress or grief caused by the message, and this incident. Please share this around to offer whatever consolation it may bring,” the band’s statement concludes.

According to 9News, police are investigating the matter and are hoping CCTV footage will help find the culprits. Speaking to 9News, Mr McLean said removing the graffiti from the memorial has proved a challenge.

“(It’s written in) big, wide, thick, black texta and it’s soaked into the actual stone,” he said. “I’ve (even) had a stone mason look at it,” he added, however he stated that it was not possible to remove the tag before the ANZAC memorial service.

Scab Eater have been in contact and will no longer be performing at Total Attack 2015, or any other related shows. "…

Posted by Total Attack on Monday, April 20, 2015

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