Theft of statue in Co Derry could be linked to fanatical religion

Police in Northern Ireland are trying to establish if there is a fanatical religious link to the theft of a statue overlooking Lough Foyle that was made by a sculptor who has also worked on the set of Game of Thrones.

Limavady Council in Co Derry reported the theft of the statue of the Irish mythological god of the sea, Manannán mac Lir, which went missing from Gortmore viewing point on Binevenagh mountain on Wednesday.

The statue was part of a myths and legends sculpture trail located in the Roe Valley in Co Derry. It is suspected that those who stole the life-size statue left a wooden cross on the site with the words: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

The theft bears an obverse parallel with the destruction in November of a steel cross at the summit of Carrauntoohil in the McGillycuddy Reeks in Co Kerry. That cross was later replaced.

The statue, which cost about £10,000, was made by sculptor, John Darren Sutton.

He said he was shocked by the theft. Creating the statue had been a "labour of love" and he had worked on it "night and day", he told the Derry Journal.