Luke Kelly statue hit by vandal a third time
GARDAÍ are investigating the third attack in a year on a statue of the late musician Luke Kelly.
The statue, one of two placed in Dublin in January last year, and designed by artist Vera Klute, was covered with black paint again, around its eyes and the remainder of the face.
Officers are examining CCTV images from cameras located near the Luke Kelly park close to where the Dubliners singer grew up on Sheriff Street in Dublin’s north inner city. Kelly was just 43 when he died in 1984.
It is understood gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry in relation to Friday evening’s vandalism.
They believe the same individual is involved in the previous two defacements.
Former lord mayor and Independent Councillor Christy Burke said: ‘The Luke Kelly statue has been destroyed once again.
‘I want to say whoever the person is who attacks Luke [it] is an attack on his family and the local residents.
‘This person could now be the person who will be the cause of the statue of our Sheriff Street son being moved. Stop. Stop.’
Condemnation of the vandalism was also voiced by Independent Councillor Anthony Flynn.
‘This is an absolute joke, seriously, in the depths of a national emergency and people have time to do this,’ he said.
‘Invest your time into helping the community instead of destroying it.’
It is hoped that the stone and restoration company involved in the other clean-ups on behalf of Dublin City Council will be successful in removing the graffiti.
Sunglasses were painted on the statue’s face on the two previous occasions.
The statue was unveiled on the 35th anniversary of the legendary singer’s death by President Michael D Higgins in January last year.
The work was commissioned by Dublin City Council in 2014 when Cllr Burke was elected as mayor.
‘Without the help of a lot of the background staff in the City Council, senior officials, these statues may never have seen the light of day on our streets,’ said Mr Burke.