Head Screwed On-Statue Gets New Head
Updated : May 30, 2009
The controversial Sean Russell statue, which was beheaded by youths four years ago, has finally got his head screwed on and has been fitted with security devices to ensure he doesn’t loose it again.
And in an extra step to secure the statue of the IRA leader, it has been built in bronze this time, and fitted with sensors and a tracking device.
Sean Whelan, chairman of the National Graves Association, told the Herald that the statue was a new one.
"In December 2004, there was a group who called themselves anti-fascists and they claimed to have beheaded it.
"Now we have a new statue, and it's only the base that is old. We got it made in a foundry in Dublin," he explained.
It is understood that the National Graves Association spent tens of thousands of euro renovating the statue.
"We'll have a ceremony for it, but the date has to be fixed yet. We'll invite anyone who wants to come and see it being unveiled. It went up yesterday and it took a day to erect.
"We had a couple of functions to raise funds and individuals gave donations as well. It wasn't cheap because it's made of solid bronze. It's the most expensive way you could make a statue. There are motion sensors on it and a tracking device inside it. If someone removes the head for example, it'll be tracked."
