Black marble monument appears near ‘traveller king’s’ giant headstone | News UK

An enormous 30-tonne memorial has appeared next to ‘Britain’s biggest’ headstone belonging to a so-called ‘traveller king’.

The nine-foot monument in Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield, marks the grave of Michael Collins and now stands mere metres away from the £200,000 marble headstone for his bare-knuckle boxer brother, William ‘Willy’ Collins.

The first memorial made headlines when it was erected two years after Willy’s death in 2020 at the age of 49 in Majorca, Spain.

But it has become the subject of a row after council bosses claimed it broke planning rules – much to the dismay of Willy’s family.

The self-proclaimed King of Sheffield’s widow, Kathleen, even threatened ‘war’ if the monument was pulled down.

The enormous structure remains in place for now and, four years later, a new 30-tonne black marble headstone has been built for Willy’s brother, Michael, who died in December 2024 at the age of 51.

The new memorial stands at nine and a half feet tall and features two white life-sized statues of Michael, one of which is flanked by what appear to be statues of Jesus Christ.

A marble pint and can of Guinness, and a marble bottle of Budweiser, can be seen behind him.

The second statue of Michael is sitting on a bench next to an image of the four Collins Brothers – all of whom have died – with the caption ‘Sheffield Collins Brothers’ written underneath.

To the right of the memorial is a marble Bluetooth jukebox emblazoned with the words ‘Legend Michael Collins’, two Irish flags, a CD and a photo of Michael.

People living in the area are not pleased about the recent development, with one comparing it to a ‘haunted crazy golf’.

One local said: ‘It is there because the council did not take action against the first one.’

Another agreed: ‘So if they didn’t get permission the first time, why is this allowed? One rule for them [because] they don’t want any trouble and another rule for the rest of us.’

Meanwhile, a third added: ‘That’s wrong. A shrine that big should be in a private cemetery, not a council one.’

But not everyone is displeased, with some describing the monument as a ‘beautiful place to remember their loved ones’.

Michael is survived by his wife Girleen, their four children Paris, Anthony, Montana, and Martin, and his one grandchild, Martin Francis.

Following his death, Michael’s daughter, Paris, said: ‘Dad was a loving family man.

‘He lived and died for his wife and children, and he absolutely doted on his little grandbaby. He thought the world of him.

‘My mum is absolutely heartbroken. They’d been together for 27 years and they did everything together.

‘My dad is in heaven now with his brother, Willy, sister-in-law, Josie, and Willy’s oldest daughter, Bonnie.’

The other two Collins brothers – Terry and Anthony – are also buried at the cemetery.

Terry died aged 52 in September 2024, while Anthony was just 22 when he died in 2002 after he was stabbed at the Afro Caribbean Club on Spital Hill.

Memorials do not require planning permission, but memorials in council cemeteries are subject to the approval of a formal application from Bereavement Services.

Final approval had not yet been granted before Michael Collins’ memorial was erected, but the council had been in discussion and prepared to consider plans for the large monument.

A final design was not submitted.

Sheffield City Council is now hoping the family will submit a retrospective application to assess whether approval can be granted.

It is also working through the appropriate processes for Willy Collins’ memorial, and discussions remain ongoing. The council told Metro it would be inappropriate to comment further.

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