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Kerry
The 5-metre tall steel cross on Carrauntoohil has been cut down
The cross was erected in 1976.
THE 5-METRE TALL steel cross on top of Ireland’s tallest peak has been cut down.
This discovery was made today by members of the public climbing Carrountoohill in Co Kerry.
Piaras Kelly from KerryClimbing.ie, who visited the site this afternoon to inspect the damage, told TheJournal.ie that he believes it was carried out in the past 12 to 14 hours.
“It’s very malicious”, he said.
No matter what anyone’s personal views on having crosses on peaks are, this goes beyond that. It’s an iconic cross on an iconic peak.
“It’s not anyone’s place to take things just because they disagree with them.”
He said it appears an angle-grinder was used to cut the steel cross.
It was erected in 1976. RTÉ News reports that it took 100 people to erect the monument.
The incident has been reported to local gardaí and committees who manage the care of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks.
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