A MYSTERY donor has come forward to pay to repair the landmark statue of Phil Lynott, which was knocked from its plinth on Harry Street in Dublin earlier this month.

The donation has been made by a third party on behalf of the two individuals responsible for the damage to the statue, who presented themselves to gardai in Pearse Street the day after the incident.

The cost of repairs to the statue, sculpted by artist Paul Daly, is said to be around €4,000.

WONDERFUL

Dublin City Council would only confirm that they would not be paying the cost of the repairs and that the statue would soon be back in place.

“Dublin City Council is making arrangements for the statue to be reinstated in its original location in the coming weeks.

“The council will not be bearing the cost of repairs to the statue,” a Dublin City Council Spokesman told the Herald.

Phil Lynott's mother, Philomena, told the Herald last night that news that a mystery donor had come forward to pay for the statue was “the best thing she had ever heard”.

“It's most wonderful news. I know the two boys asked the gardai to pass on their apologies to me, and I accept they were sorry. I'm just so happy no one got hurt,” she said.

Commissioned by the Roisin Dubh Trust, which commemorates the life and music of Phil Lynott, the statue sculpted by artist Paul Daly,

was unveiled by Philomena Lynott, and the then Dublin Lord Mayor, Catherine Byrne, in 2005 in front of hundreds of Thin Lizzy fans.

The statue sustained two serous cracks when it was knocked from its plinth in the early morning of May 10.

Two men in their 20s were arrested.A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Online Editors