The marble statue of Archbishop Patrick Leahy, a former Catholic archbishop of Cashel and Emly, was decapitated and the head stolen last week. There have been a series of attacks recently on churches and religious objects.

The marble statue stands just metres from the main entrance to Thurles Cathedral. The head appears to have been knocked off violently spreading fragments of stone around the base.

Gardaí have described the incident as a wanton act of violence. Superintendent Pat Murphy said locals are shocked. “They are horrified that something which has been there for so long has been damaged in such a fashion”.