The theft of National Wax Museum figures will not stop next month's reopening of the tourist attraction, the museum's management insisted today.
Dozens of models, including Bob the Builder,the Teletubbiesand Frankenstein, were stolen from a warehouse in central Dublin last month.
Replica uniforms from the Easter Rising and World War Two periods were also taken in the robbery, which occurred in the south inner city at some time between June 3rd and 20th.
Silence of the Lambscharacter Hannibal Lecter, Gollum from Lord of the Ringsand guitars used by The Edge of U2 and Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott were stolen.
A new Dublin location for the National Museum is expected to be announced in a fortnight. The museum's former building in Parnell Square was sold in 2005, but its stock of wax figures was purchased by new owners.
"The damage was quite extensive," museum owner Kay Murray said today. "Whoever did it was looking for uniforms, because most of our uniforms were stolen. They're really worth nothing to the person who has them, they're of no material worth. They can't wear them."
The museum's sculptor is working to repair damaged wax figures for the reopening.
"It's not going to stop the museum reopening. It will just delay us. We hope to make an announcement in two weeks," said Ms Murray.
"I didn't go to the press because I wanted the Garda to handle this themselves and do it their way. But as of yet, they have come up with nothing," she told RTÉ Radio.
The museum will feature previous favourites like the Chamber of Horrors, a Hall of Megastars and the Children's World of Fairytale and Fantasy.
Life-sized figures from the historical, cultural and political development of Ireland including WB Yeats, James Joyce and Eamon De Valera will also be on show.