Wax museum vows to reopen despite theft

A daring theft of National Wax Museum figures will not stop next month’s re-opening of the tourist attraction, it emerged today.

Dozens of models like Bob the Builder, the Teletubbies and Frankenstein were stolen from a warehouse in central Dublin last month.

Silence of the Lambs character Hannibal Lecter, Gollum from Lord of the Rings and guitars used by ’The Edge’ of U2 and Thin Lizzy frontman ’Phil Lynott’ were also removed in the raid, which was estimated to cost one million euro.

A new Dublin location for the National Museum is expected to be announced in a fortnight.

Former TD and businessman Donie Cassidy sold the museum’s former building in Parnell Square in 2005 but its stock of wax figures was purchased by new owners.

Replica uniforms from the Easter Rising and World War Two periods were also taken in the robbery, which occurred in the south inner city between June 3-20th.

Museum owner Kay Murray said today: “The damage was quite extensive. Whoever did it was looking for uniforms, because most of our uniforms were stolen.

“They’re really worth nothing to the person who has them, they’re of no material worth. They can’t wear them.”

The museum’s sculptor is currently in a race against time to repair damaged wax figures for the re-opening.

“It’s not going to stop the museum re-opening. It will just delay us. We hope to make an announcement in two weeks,” said Ms Murray.

“I didn’t go to the press because I wanted the Garda to handle this themselves and do it their way. But as of yet, they have come up with nothing.

“It has been soul-destroying for me and the sculptor and all the staff,” she told RTE Radio.

The re-opened museum will feature previous favourites like the Chamber of Horrors, a Hall of Megastars and the Children’s World of Fairytale and Fantasy.

Life-sized figures from the historical, cultural and political development of Ireland including WB Yeats, James Joyce and Eamon De Valera will also be present.