Gardaí scan CCTV film after damage to baby Jesus

GARDAÍ have confirmed they are scanning CCTV footage of Skibbereen on the night of December 27th and early on December 28th, in their ongoing investigation into the damage to the baby Jesus figure in the town’s crib.

The figure was taken from the Christmas crib on The Bridge on Main Street and smashed, in what is being seen as a ‘drunken prank’ over the holiday period.

Although the manger was also stolen from the crib, locals were even more shocked to find the main figure in the Christmas scene smashed to pieces and left in a laneway, the next day.

Local jeweller Denis O’Leary brought the infant to local Carmelite nuns who patched it back together, although there are still some pieces missing.

They had it ready, however, to return to the crib in time for the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, last Saturday. 

Gardaí confirmed last week that they had CCTV coverage of the incident, and that there were also a lot of people in the area at the time.

Describing it as a ‘drunken prank’, one local said it was hoped that the manger – which had also been stolen on the night – might be returned to Skibbereen or Clonakilty gardaí so that the Chamber of Commerce would not have to replace it. 

They had already spent €300 on the current manger, which was purchased in time for this year’s celebrations.