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Manannán Mac Lir: Games of Thrones sculptor's statue found | Manannán Mac Lir: Games of Thrones sculptor's statue found |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A six-feet sculpture of a Celtic sea god that was stolen from Binevenagh Mountain, near Limavady, in County Londonderry has been recovered by soldiers on a training exercise. | A six-feet sculpture of a Celtic sea god that was stolen from Binevenagh Mountain, near Limavady, in County Londonderry has been recovered by soldiers on a training exercise. |
Manannán Mac Lir, which is made out of fibre glass and stainless steel was stolen last month. | Manannán Mac Lir, which is made out of fibre glass and stainless steel was stolen last month. |
The Ministry of Defence has said it was located by members of the Royal Irish Regiment. | The Ministry of Defence has said it was located by members of the Royal Irish Regiment. |
Police said a group of ramblers spotted the statue and alerted the soldiers. | Police said a group of ramblers spotted the statue and alerted the soldiers. |
The statue was installed last year and was a popular tourist attraction. | The statue was installed last year and was a popular tourist attraction. |
Alan Robinson, the mayor of Limavady, said police told him there seemed to be some damage to the statue. | Alan Robinson, the mayor of Limavady, said police told him there seemed to be some damage to the statue. |
"The police officer in question said there appeared to be some damage around its head and whether or not that could be repaired was a matter for a sculptor to determine," he said. | "The police officer in question said there appeared to be some damage around its head and whether or not that could be repaired was a matter for a sculptor to determine," he said. |
In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said: "Soldiers from 2nd Batallion Royal Irish Regiment were deployed by helicopter to the north Antrim Coast last night for a weekend exercise. | |
"Whilst trekking through Binevenagh forest near Magilligan Strand they discovered the missing statue and immediately alerted the PSNI. | "Whilst trekking through Binevenagh forest near Magilligan Strand they discovered the missing statue and immediately alerted the PSNI. |
'Detached' | 'Detached' |
"The Ministry of Defence is delighted this unique statue has been found." | "The Ministry of Defence is delighted this unique statue has been found." |
Sergeant Major Wallace Mehaffey said the statue was found 300 metres from its original position and was badly damaged. | Sergeant Major Wallace Mehaffey said the statue was found 300 metres from its original position and was badly damaged. |
He said the base of it had been "ripped off its mount" and part of the head was detached. | He said the base of it had been "ripped off its mount" and part of the head was detached. |
"We were approached by a group of ramblers and they told us they had found what appeared to be the said statue, because it has fallen down the side of a rocky outcrop I would say some 50 to 70 metres, it is damaged to the back of the head," he added. | |
Police said they were pleased the statue had been recovered and appealed to anyone with information about its theft to contact them. | Police said they were pleased the statue had been recovered and appealed to anyone with information about its theft to contact them. |
They said a group of ramblers spotted the statue and alerted the soldiers. | They said a group of ramblers spotted the statue and alerted the soldiers. |
Those who stole the statue last month left a wooden cross with the words "You shall have no other gods before me" in its place. | Those who stole the statue last month left a wooden cross with the words "You shall have no other gods before me" in its place. |
Sculptor John Sutton, who has worked on the Game of Thrones television series, said that it would have taken a number of men with angle grinders several hours to remove the £10,000 figure from its base. | Sculptor John Sutton, who has worked on the Game of Thrones television series, said that it would have taken a number of men with angle grinders several hours to remove the £10,000 figure from its base. |
The theft prompted a campaign for its safe return, and led to a 'missing persons appeal' by police. | The theft prompted a campaign for its safe return, and led to a 'missing persons appeal' by police. |
Earlier this month, Limavady Borough Council had voted to replace the stolen artwork with a sculpture "as similar to the original as possible". | Earlier this month, Limavady Borough Council had voted to replace the stolen artwork with a sculpture "as similar to the original as possible". |