The Haunting Soldier has been vandalised with red paint this morning. Photo: John RooneyMinister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan has slammed the vandalism.
A sculpture to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 has been vandalised in Dublin.
‘The Haunting Soldier’ statue represents a soldier returning from war and the six-metre-high installation, which is made from pieces of metal.
Forty-Nine Thousand Irishmen were killed in the conflict, that claimed the lives of approximately 40-Million people.
Designed by Dorset-based artist and blacksmith Martin Galbavy, it is made from scraps of metal including horse shoes, spanners, car jacks and brake discs.
The sculpture was due to stand in the park until November 26.
However, in the early hours of this morning at 2am, red paint was thrown over it.
Gardai say they are investigating the criminal damage caused to the installation and are at the scene this morning which has been sealed off.
No arrests have been made so far.
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan expressed her disappointment about the vandalism.
“This installation honours all those who died in the terrible suffering of World War One," she said.
"It is incredibly moving and has been proved immensely popular.
There is no bravery in throwing paint at a statute in the middle of the night.''
"My Department has been in touch with the OPW in relation to the damage and I understand that installation will be cleaned up today," she said.
