Statue is smashed in act of vandalism

RESIDENTS in a Northside suburb have expressed outrage after vandals smashed a statue that has been a landmark in their community for almost 30 years.

The wanton act of vandalism took place last Monday week (October 8) when a hand was broken off the statue of the Virgin Mary which is located in a small grotto on Ferrycarrig Road, Coolock.

Local resident Tina Kelly said: “I am disgusted with what the vandals have done to our statue of Mary.  “They smashed the hand off her and absolutely wrecked the surrounding area. 

“I was one of the people who raised the money for that statue over 29 years ago and it is a crying shame that thugs from another area have done this. Our own children were never allowed to disrespect it and it was always kept in immaculate condition.”

Ms Kelly asked Northside People to highlight the incident to “show other people what their kids are up to at night”.

She believes getting a replacement statue would not be the answer because of the chance it would be wrecked again and she feels it would be a waste of money.

“I think it’s time for us to take the statue down with help from our local community and get rid of the thugs that did this,” she added.   The statue has been well secured in the grotto where it has stood since being erected by locals in May 1989.

In 2008 the statue was stolen from the grotto. However, after local man and community activist Dick O’Leary made an appeal on the Joe Duffy Liveline programme and in this newspaper, it was later found in a garden following an anonymous tip off.

That theft in 2008 was the first serious incident of vandalism to take place since it was erected, and nothing of consequence happened thereafter until last Monday week. 

The grotto is a favourite location for locals to pray or have their picture taken following baptisms and First Holy Communions.

Mr O’Leary said the latest incident has upset many people in the local community.

“The statue is very near and dear to all the local residents and they are very upset by what’s happened,” he told Northside People. “It’s very sad for the people of Bonnybrook.

“Myself and my neighbours erected the statue, at great cost, in May 1989. Charlie Haughey got us the planning permission and also made a donation. His son Sean Haughey (Fianna Fail TD for Dublin Bay North) organised for it to be painted annually through Dublin City Council.” 

Mr O’Leary said boys and girls have been congregating at the grotto of late. 

“I would appreciate if the parents told their children not to go into the grotto as it’s not for social purposes,” he said. “And I would ask that they stop this anti-social behaviour.” 

Mr O’Leary added that he is hopeful a similar statue could replace the damaged one some time in the future.