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Widower appeals for iPod’s return

A widower has issued an emotional appeal for thieves to return an iPod which is a treasure trove of musical memories of happier times he spent with his wife, who lost her battle to cancer a year ago.

Father of three Michael Silke appealed to anyone who might have either stolen or purchased the iPod Classic at a knockdown price to return it.

He said that the iPod belonged to his late wife Susanna, and was one of several items stolen during the burglary of their home. It contained music she had stored for decades from “Abba to [Frank] Zappa”. It was scratched with wear, and has a silver back and black front.

“Perhaps the iPod may have been dumped in some ditch, hedge, or drain and I am appealing to anyone who finds it to give it to their local gardaí as it is of such sentimental value that I would love to get it back,” said Mr Silke, from Woodquay, near Tuam, Co Galway, where he lives with their three teenagers, daughters Méabh and Saidbh and son Daithí.

The iPod belonging to his wife, who died at just 50, was left beside Mr Silke’s bed, where he would often listen to some of their favourite songs in the evenings.

The burglars struck when Mr Silke was taking a daughter to school in Tuam. “It was probably the only morning that she missed the bus. They took four laptops, two iPods, and a sum of money. The cash was approximately €400 to €500 in coins and notes that our son Daithí had been saving for the school trip to China in April.”

Mr Silke said that while the replacement value of everything taken would be in the region of €3,000, the burglars might only get €50 or €100 for the lot.

Fortunately Ms Silke’s wedding ring was not taken, he added.

Gardaí believe the burglars were travelling through the village when they spotted Mr Silke leaving the house and knew they had about 20 minutes to go through the house. While gardaí recovered three of the laptops in a stolen car near Loughrea, one has not been found.

Gardaí said they are following a line of enquiry but no arrests have been made.

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