Locals appeal for return of statue stolen during Hurricane Ophelia

Local residents and gardaí in Dublin have appealed for information following the theft of a bronze statue in Finglas during Hurricane Ophelia on Monday.

It is believed the three-metre high bronze ‘Mother and Baby’ statue was taken from a green area located between Finglas Road and Finglas Place some time after 2pm on Monday afternoon.

Describing the matter as "shocking", Fianna Fáil Cllr PaulMcAuliffe said in a tweet that "the Gardai have confirmed that the statue has been removed but not by @DubCityCouncil. Reports of 3 men removing it in a grey van."

Last August the statue was at the centre of controversy when the word ‘REPEAL’ was sprayed on its plinth which angered some people in the area.

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The Dublin North West Repeal group subsequently stated that washable chalk was used and no damage caused to the statue.

It said writing the word REPEAL on the plinth was part of a photo campaign to “highlight the local impact of the 8th Amendment, including its impact on women who are already mothers and their children.”

The statue, by sculptor Elizabeth McLaughlin, was first erected in 1996 off the Finglas bypass but was moved to its current location in 2013 following a motion by Cllr McAuliffe.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station at 01-6667500 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.