WATCH: Green Cllr slammed after querying funding for statue of Jesus in Hardwicke Street Flats

A Green Party Councillor has denied she wanted to see a newly-replaced statue of Jesus in Hardwicke Street flats removed after controversy arose online regarding queries she raised on funding the statue at a Dublin City Council meeting.

The statue of Jesus in Hardwicke Street had been inadvertently broken by Dublin City Council twenty years ago during renovation, locals told Dublin Live. The replacement was provided by the Sisters of Charity, and the plinth was built by the Council to replace where the statue previously been placed.

Cllr Janet Horner asked the chamber whether the erection of the statue was paid for by Dublin City Council – saying she would have some concerns, and that spending public money on “these kinds of things” didn’t “seem quite ideal” to her.

“I guess, I’m just a bit curious about that,” she said. “Is that paid for by the Central Area Office; do we have a policy in relation to how we spend money for religious artefacts of different types, like which religions we provide artefacts for, if we have any rules governing that, or what the amount of money that is spent on religious items would be.”

“I would have some concerns about that, I would certainly have some concerns about how we recognise equity, recognition for different religions in the area – spending public money on those kinds of things doesn’t seem quite ideal to me,” she said.

The video of her comments led to a backlash online, with many commentators pointing out that the reinstallation of the statue had been requested by local people.

Robbie Kane of Dublin Live interviewed locals who spoke warmly about memories they had of the statue of Our Lord, and said it meant a lot to them to always have the statue a point to gather and pray.

“I’m glad to see it back,” one woman said, remembering how her family would gather and pray for those struggling with drug addiction. “It’s part of our religion,” another said, while the women agreed they had no problem with other religions being represented and said the area had no issues with integration.

“We’ve no problem with anybody doing what they wish to do, but Our Lord has to stay, He can’t be going,” one woman said. “It brings solace and comfort to people who live in these flats.”

They told Kane that they were “upset and angry” and “more than surprised” to hear that the reinstallation of the statue had been questioned and that there was any negativity towards the move.

“Upset and angry that her opinion was so negative,” one woman said. “And not respecting other people’s religion, as in the Roman Catholic religion.”

“Why did she not come down and speak to us about the statue?” another asked.

The original statue had been dedicated to the young people who died from drugs by Fr Jim Smith, local people said, at a time when drugs were ravaging the area.

In response to the controversy, Horner told Dublin Live: “There was no suggestion from me or anyone else in yesterday’s meeting that the statue should be removed. I am sorry to see that it is being said and causing upset to people who see the statue as very important to their community.

“However, I did want to clarify based on the information we received yesterday how the statue was financed as it wasn’t clear from the report whether the Council had paid for it or not. And overall, I don’t think it is appropriate for public money to be spent on religious statues, regardless of the religion in question.

“However, I clarified directly with the area manager after the meeting that the statue wasn’t financed by the Council – it was paid for by the local church – and that was the end of the issue from my side. I’m sorry to see the upset caused to people by some suggesting there was something further at play there.”

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