Four Co Armagh men charged with stealing the head from the Padraig O Connaire statue in Eyre Square in Galway last April were again remanded on bail when they came before Galway District Court yesterday. Two of them had the charges against them altered.
Mr Gary O'Connor (19), Mr John McManus (20), Mr Gavin McNaney (18) and Mr Gareth Leahy (20), all from Armagh town, had been charged with stealing the head, causing £50,000 of criminal damage, and with a breach of the peace. Yesterday, Insp P.J. Durkin said the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided to withdraw the charge of criminal damage against Mr McManus and Mr Leahy.
The inspector asked to have all four remanded on continuing bail to September 13th, when a book of evidence would be ready. Judge John Garavan remanded them to appear before the court again in September.
Galway Corporation, meanwhile, has decided to commission a bronze replica of the famous statue, which will take the place of the original in Eyre Square. The damaged stone statue will find a new home indoors at a venue to be decided by the corporation.