This is what residents of Thurles, Co. Tipperary woke up to this morning.
A vandal or vandals have destroyed the statue of Archbishop Dr. Patrick Leahy, decapitating the sculpture and absconding with the head.
Archbishop Leahy, born to a father of the same name Patrick Leahy; latter a civil engineer and county surveyor of Cork, who was born near Thurles, on May 31st 1806, before being educated at Maynooth.
The Archbishop died at the episcopal residence in Thurles, just yards from his statue on 26th January 1875, and was buried within Thurles Cathedral of the Assumption on February 3rd 1875.
Gardaí are investigating and it is hoped that CCTV footage here in Thurles can offer evidence of involvement.
I can’t find words to describe those vandals. When they are caught there is no real punishment.