Crosbie to get back his bear necessities
BUSINESSMAN Harry Crosbie is to get his paws back on the three bear sculptures that were a feature of the Dublin Docklands he helped develop. The bears, by sculptor Patrick O’Reilly and estimated to be worth in excess of €100,000, were seized last March from their location outside the 3Arena by agents working for the National Asset Management Agency overseeing the liquidation of Crosbie’s assets. Receivers at Grant Thornton are in possession of them but Mr Crosbie is confident he can get them back soon. The Irish Mail on Sunday can now reveal that a letter written by Mr O’Reilly will allow the developer to get custody of the bronze statues.
And the statues are expected to reappear outside Mr Crosbie’s Vicar Street music venue in Dublin, which he is expanding into a 185bedroom, four-star hotel.
Mr O’Reilly said: ‘What I did was write a letter on behalf of Harry to confirm that he had bought the statues in a personal capacity. I don’t know where the bears are now. They could be in Mountjoy for all I know, but I believe Harry is going to put them in the new hotel. I am delighted he is getting them back. It will be great to see them back out on display.’ The hotel will offer residents a ‘rock and room’ experience at Crosbie’s Vicar Street venue. According to reports, planning permission has already been granted for the make-over, which will include an increase in capacity for the music venue. It is understood that the bears will be placed at the front of the new building, and they were even included in an artist’s impression of what the project will look like. Nama declined to comment when contacted.