THE mother of late rock star Phil Lynott says she will call on fans from around the world to help pay for repairs to a landmark statue of her son which was damaged earlier this month.

Substantial damage was done to the bronze statute when it was pushed off its plinth on Dublin's Harry Street in the early morning of May 10.

Since then it has been removed to the Dublin city foundry where it was cast to await repairs.

However, there is confusion over who will foot the cost of the repairs.

Neither Lynott's mother, Philomena, right, who campaigned to have the statue erected in 2005 with the Roisin Dubh Trust, nor the foundry where it now awaits repair, know who's going to foot the bill.

Dublin City Council has declined to comment on the issue of repairs and stated no decision would be made until a report on the cost of the repairs was reviewed in due course.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council told Herald: "The statue is in the foundry at present being assessed. Dublin City Council are awaiting an update/report on the damages, repairs involved and cost to repair. No action will be taken until report is assessed."

Legend

But the rock legend's mother said one way or the other she is confident that the statue will be re-erected to its place of honour on Harry's Street in the coming months

"I honestly don't know who's going to pay to have Phil's statue repaired. But I know there are Thin Lizzy fans round the world who will help me pay for it, if that's what has to happen.

"They are the ones who paid for it in the first place. Back then we got letters with five and ten euros from places like Sweden, Denmark and Japan and money from benefit gigs where Thin Lizzy tribute acts performed.

"That's how we raised the money for it," Philomena Lynott (81) told the Herald.

A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions after two men in their 20s were arrested by gardai after they presented themselves at Pearse Street Garda Station the day after the statue was knocked from its plinth, cracking when it hit the ground.

The Herald understands the statue could be repaired within a few weeks once the funds are found. It was sculpted by Paul Daly.

hnews@herald.ie