Ballinspittle Statue Vandals Trial, Co. Cork, Ireland 1985

Worshippers can only look on as three men damage a statue of the Virgin Mary in Ballinspittle.
In July 1985 claims were made about a moving statue of the Virgin Mary in Ballinspittle, County Cork. Since then thousands of people flocked to the town in the hope that they would experience the statue moving for themselves.
In October 1985, in front of a group of 20-30 worshippers, the statue was attacked, resulting in the face being completely broken away, the hands and other parts of the head also damaged.
Witness to the incident Mark Farrell gives an account of what happened on the night in question. The attack was carried out by three men. One of them carried a nail bar and the second man had a lump-hammer and a small hatchet. The third man took photographs of the destruction. Nobody present attempted to stop the men.
They looked like fellas that would sort of cut the head off you with the equipment they had themselves.
The whole incident was over in five minutes and Gardaí arrived at the scene three minutes after the men had departed.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 October 1985. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.

[@dessiemckenzie5857]

There were many statues damaged in this year . In the end the Catholic Church decided to leave lights on at night in chapels all over the land to stop statues colliding during dark hours

[@brianfitzpatrick9897]

This was self defence the statues moved on them first

[@MrChrislj]

What a time to be alive! The country was effectively the largest cult in Europe.

[@newparadigm7444]

Now it's a cult of woke where the LGBTQS2IAQ etc etc cult have imposed their ideology on every level of society. More things change the more they stay the same!

[@noelcahill6707]

No wounder people in the north felt miles away from this lot

[@odonnchada9994]

Hail Holy Queen Of Ireland And Heaven Our Blessed Lady Mary.☘✝️🇮🇪

[@seancullen99]

The local drapery must have done serious business with everyone buying a new outfit for the TV cameras. Wouldn't be surprised if they hired the vandals.

[@noel-qi6ti]

father ted and derry girls start making so much more sense seeing all them old videos

[@Dreyno]

If you grew up in 80s and 90s Ireland, they’re practically documentaries. It was still cringe at the time though.

[@irishboer7124]

ask mum she tell you. She didn't put out in the 80s.

[@MrLetmein2011]

That aul fella's comb over at the very end is a work or art , must be a pain on a windy day though .

[@electricrussell]

3 dirty tugs is all it takes me these days...

[@joannbyrne182]

😉

[@subaru22b555]

....to ballinspittle all over the place

[@paulgorman3001]

@@joannbyrne182 get your mind out of that gutter young miss Byrne 😜😂😂

[@joannbyrne182]

@@paulgorman3001 lol

[@paulgorman3001]

@@joannbyrne182 and get to bed it's late or you'll be in trouble 😜😂 if only Mr Byrne knew how dirty minded you are 😂😂😂 now get up early you've to go to confessions at half 7 mass 😂😂😂

[@bmates5167]

Those three fellas made a holy show of themselves.

[@williambinions4205]

Nah. They were only showing people that they were mass hysterical in bowing down to an idol and breaking one of the Ten Commandments. It was the people who were making a holy show of themselves. Brainwashing and hysteria are a terrible disease. These 3 guys are hero’s

[@nilsbrownmusic4507]

This statue fanaticism in 80’s Ireland is perhaps the oddest and most obscure corner of KZbin.

[@colors6692]

I think busking in a wide open space empty of people with a face mask on while singing is, frankly, the oddest!

[@charliebridges3584]

Fuck I love 1980s Ireland. This is way funnier than any 'Fr Ted' episode. Its even funnier than that crowd of eejits last week in Washington.

[@ciaran6309]

Trust me 80s and 90s were great

[@react--]

These are a couple of them feckin eejits floating around here.

[@ciaran6309]

Better than now too. 😏😁

[@kavalogue]

If that's what you've to say about a Peaceful protest I can't wait to hear your take on the summer of love 🤣🤣

[@bouse23]

i understand local people being pissed off three guys admitted doing it and were let off scott free.

[@react--]

And Dubliners at that.

[@thisdrinkinglife]

Whatever you think about the breaking of the statues, it was a mad decision by the judge... typical Irish style, couldn't be arsed with the hassle

[@enhancesoutheast5964]

The guy shouting ', tree tugs' inspired Donald Trumps hairstylist True story.

[@react--]

Jesus your right. Gas.

[@smallfeet4581]

😂

[@kavalogue]

We are trend setters no doubt

[@antseanbheanbocht4993]

Feckin young lads like them, shouldn't they have been at a lovely girls competition or something?

[@oconnorkieran5837]

🤣

[@stuartkelly3106]

The Grotto committee! Jaysus, this is like a father Ted episode.

[@huub1989]

Any vandalism is deplorable, as is any religious fanaticism. Any attack on a religious site of any faith is unacceptable.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

I could not agree with you more

[@Peter-733]

unbelievable that they got away with that.

[@react--]

Bloody gurriers and tugs upsetting the holy Joe's.

[@williamodriscoll5206]

Got away with what you say what💤💤💤💤💤👁️👁️👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👹👹👹👹👹👹👹

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Some people are evil and wicked, they could be the devils children, doing his dirty works, Nobody should attach, abuse or insult anyone's religion

[@react--]

That women talking at the start in the green jacket has a very deep voice.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

Impressive hairdo there, even Trumps hairstylist would struggle to achieve that epic blonde comb over.

[@joannbyrne182]

The feckin bowzies! Down with with this sort of thing!

[@gard7662]

Booo!

[@moonlightttt156]

A ton of brillacream on that comb over

[@davinathorne5215]

I thought it was Donald Trump!

[@derekstynes9631]

The combover from Hell !

[@robertjsmith]

Feckin hilarious

[@coolmacatrain9434]

7:50 Tree Durty Tugs! ................................. That's numberwank!

[@eoghanoconnell2842]

Epic Comb-over

[@Drumm3rB0y]

Lads...Its a bleedin statue for fuck sake

[@user-lx5ue4wm5k]

Straight out of father ted down with this sort of thing

[@tonybourke4946]

Jesus Christ is Lord for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life

[@bouse23]

I was always told it was three uvf guys smashed up the statue. Surprised to learn it was 3 dubs.

[@369jones6]

Equally surprisingly they try to rationalize vandalism by saying you shouldn't be worshiping false Gods. Like setting themselves up as some quasi vigilantly police section of the Catholic church. Totally bizarre. Only in Ireland.

[@andipandi5641]

@@369jones6 no .. bible belt america is more insane .. and they have fecking guns..

[@irishboer7124]

@@369jones6 They were Evangelical Protestants. Happy Clappers. You know- the ones who speak in tongues and get healed of incurable diseases by pastor Jimmy Bobby Joe.

[@tonybourke4946]

@@irishboer7124 Jesus Christ is Lord we all need Jesus Jesus loves you God Bless

[@jimbob4537]

I think that they were what used to be known as "a bunch of proddies"

[@skipstopstart]

"used to..."😅😅

[@tearitloosetearitloose4670]

Careful now.

[@cheguevera8624]

Praying for a damaged statue, while children was murdered and tortured by Catholic Church with help of establishment

[@odonnchada9994]

God Will Deal Very Harshly With All Those Evil Sinners Who Hid Behind The One True Faith.☘✝️🇮🇪

[@kevindoran9389]

Looking at 80s Ireland from 2021 Ireland, I may as well be looking at an alien planet.

[@user-zr9bw1xb7d]

The moving statue happen on July 22nd 1985🇮🇪

[@gerryhanly3194]

Why didn't the statue move before it was attacked?

[@oconnorkieran5837]

😂

[@subaru22b555]

It's the likes of these lads that give Irish builders a bad name. Five minutes to do that lot of work. Disgraceful layabouts!

[@matthewgorman1307]

Cowboys ted shoddy shoddy workmanship.

[@moneymandan6217]

Did they like not even do it live on Facebook or Instagram ? Amateurs

[@HPLovecraftsCat87]

Our country would embarrass you at times.

[@smallfeet4581]

😂, oh but it good for a laugh , ( in a nice way ) ,

[@bradleylinemihler]

My Dad is in this video lol

[@edmundpower1250]

Which one?

[@bradleylinemihler]

@@edmundpower1250 John Callaghan he was rep of the firm

[@joannbyrne182]

But while they were kissing the feet of the statue they were turning a blind eye to what church was still up to

[@fluffycats8872]

Just because the Vatican were hiding the sexuel abouse doesn't mean we turn our back on Jesus and our blessed virgin mother because she told the visionaries that the priests and cardinals and Bishops were walking the road to perdition and dragging alot of soals with them and people were egnoring her

[@deanodog3667]

cats bollocks

[@react--]

@@fluffycats8872 yeah right.

[@joannbyrne182]

@@fluffycats8872 each to their own

[@smallfeet4581]

@@fluffycats8872 look im not being pernickety here but when was this she ,the blessed virgin mother, did this ? , and were these people the same ones who's relatives got girls pregnant then called the mother and children names because the mother was not married , did the virgin mother not have a word with the people , are you deliberately using the word soals or is it a mistake ?

[@Lar308]

I was a young Garda in Limerick and recall being sent to direct traffic at some statue outside Limerick such were the crowds attending. I thought I might see one of my school and Templemore classmates in the video. He was horrified to be sent to Portlaoise over all the prison duty and sadly not long after he arrived he died in a house fire at the place he was staying in.

[@MICHAELCAMPBELL69]

Cork&Kerry the capital of moving statues

[@deanodog3667]

This is worse than the children of tuam...hold on a minute ...!!

[@katoness]

Jaysus, a storm in a tea cup.

[@colors6692]

I thought Father Ted was a work of fiction!

[@jamesfagan7823]

Let us pray to the statues

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

I was in Ireland that summer. There was a statue fever happening across the west of the country, with thousands of the faithful claiming to see the statues "crying"and "moving." More than once I saw women clambering up muddy hillsides to touch one of these "miracle" statues, only to slip and slide all the way back down the hill, bowling over dozens of the other faithful lunatics. That's why the lads started attacking the statues--it was a largely futile attempt to break the frightening, zombie-like religious hysteria in which most of Ireland was gripped. Watching all this insanity, I suddenly understand exactly how and why so many innocent people were burned to death as "witches" (a most cruel & painful death.) Whatever your feelings about religious freedoms might be, those "vandals" were heroes and those who wanted to string them up were the real menace to society.

[@Harveybeau]

You have not a clue what your talking about the same size these three morals.

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

@@Harveybeau Are ye speakin' in code now, lassie? What has me boot size to do with it all?

[@stevehubler3024]

Those vandals were cowardly henchmen of Satan.

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

@@stevehubler3024 So, it's Satan himself up and walking about in the parish, is it? Can ye spot Him at the market, in the guise of someone ye've known all yer born days? Can ye no call the priest 'round to do a proper exorcism, or is the poor sod just not taking your calls anymore? I hear tell that there are medications now for those afflicted with demonic visions...I mean, has to be better than self-crucifixion and burning other people alive, or wherever else all that stuff always leads to, right? Right?

[@willywonka5394]

Asdee boys?

[@christyb271]

Well done you Jakeens.

[@pascalennis9123]

Whats a phone box,?

[@christyb271]

@@pascalennis9123 Dublin jackeens

[@amysands8925]

the irish have great colour. big red faces especially the farmers.

[@draoi99]

One thing I always disliked about Catholicism was all the Mariolatry.

[@lukethedrifter100]

Never heard that word till now, brilliant 🤣🤣 thanks

[@odonnchada9994]

Hail Holy Queen Of Ireland And Heaven Our Blessed Lady Mary.☘✝️🇮🇪

[@wc6220]

Looks like an episode of father ted!!!

[@oconnorkieran5837]

that would be an ecumenical matter

[@YoutubeUser..]

Tree dirty tugs

[@kitsilanomusician2669]

Ye Dirty Bloody Bums..

[@bouse23]

I'll beat ye around the town

[@bouse23]

If the court case was held nearer ballinspittle they would have been lynched

[@philipwilliams9060]

@@bouse23 .... 😂😂😂

[@opencurtin]

Tom McSweeney must be around 14 here ..

[@086DEN]

This all had to be a sketch!

[@ciaran5588]

So basically they were praying to a lump of grey rock? That's devotion for ya boys & girls!

[@junkboxxxxxx]

Tis a foul deed

[@raymonddixon7603]

And these were the lu la's that allowed nuns get away with murder Moving statues I ask Ye.

[@369jones6]

Nope you'll find that was a cultural and societal phenomenon.

[@raymonddixon7603]

@@369jones6 I hope you mean adoring plaster statues.

[@369jones6]

@@raymonddixon7603 Why? Would I be correct in saying if I say the culture which effectively criminally confined mother's and again criminally took their children from not only them but also the fathers, was purely due to a diktat from Rome then you won't launch a tirade of abuse? I have a funny feeling that is your assertion. If so, you can surely see the parallel to a blinkered intolerant culture then? ... Well then to illicit you're ire I will state some facts. I will categorically state that the culture that encouraged such criminality was cultural as it encouraged the insanity of vehement Catholicism and societal due to the fact the full power of the state was involved, that includes thousands of public and civil servants and directly also as large portion of the population knew it was happening. Notwithstanding of course there were large sections of the population that didn't know it was going on, (but knew well the hypocrisy, stupidity and plain insanity at the heart of the irish subservience to Rome) but ergo equally there were large sections of the population that knew exactly the horror that was going on behind the gates of those instructions. Individuals who had no qualms whatsoever to receive communion, go to mass and confession and put it out of their mind on a daily basis. Individuals could have stood up and shouted stop, they could have chained themselves to the gates but no one did. The blame is due to the church and every other institution in the state and ultimately the people who supported the Roman church 24/7 in Ireland and as far as I'm aware that was near on 90% of the population when that horror was been played out.

[@raymonddixon7603]

@@369jones6 Completely agree with everything you say. Much better than I could put it.

[@369jones6]

@@raymonddixon7603 Thank you and to fully clarify it was not that "type" of individual per se and not even the corrupt Catholic church centred in Rome which caused and allowed the criminality directed at innocent mothers, children and fathers it was in essence the people and their collective groupthink, their culture and primarily those that directly knew it was going on individually and within institutions and the state apparatchik.

[@gandersneck]

that haircut is like a skunk sitting up on his head.

[@oconnorkieran5837]

Down with that sort of thing

[@snowedman2993]

Section 30 Offences against the country what the f

[@pascalennis9123]

Its a good job they didnt kill that statue,they only wounded her ,so maybe she,l stay quiet now,

[@moonlightttt156]

Is that a young gay burns at 5 .33

[@KingLoon3y]

Well weren’t they dead right to? Catholicism has showed no mercy or respect here.

[@andipandi5641]

if they had kneecapped a Priest who was fucking children they would have been.. but this was just other arseholes trying to impose their ideas on others..

[@odonnchada9994]

Hail Glorious Roman Catholic Saints And Martyrs Of Éireann.☘✝️🇮🇪

[@df289]

Dose 3 dirty tuggers

[@richardmcgoldrick78]

These men were followers of the American televangelist Dr. Gene Scott. Robert Draper became a preacher based on Scott's literallist reading of the Bible, hence their offence taken to the worship of graven images. Still no excuse for vandalism though. Nothing like the arrogance of true believers I suppose.

[@robertjsmith]

policeman attacked by comb-over

[@royaltararanger2125]

magic mushrooms

[@c02615223]

2:05 - fella on the right is like "WTF are we doing"!

[@opencurtin]

It’s a very peaceful place it’s a pity that these people felt the need to carry out such a nasty disrespectful act .

[@lukethedrifter100]

I'd like to meet those three lads today, legends, years ahead of their time,. The poor Irish where stupified by the church, no wounder the weirdo in the black suit was in a hurry to get away. The 80s in ireland was bleak, full of bad sweepovers 🤣🤣

[@electricrussellette]

How are anti-Catholic Protestants "years ahead of their time?" They've been destroying icons in Ireland since the Reformation.

[@mcgannpster]

At least Trevor makes himself laugh

[@lukethedrifter100]

With respect but anyone who worships icons are fools. Go read your bible and see for yourself what the almighty GOD say about it. The problem with Catholics is they don't read their bible ever so their completely in the dark, their spiritual leaders lied to them, and the sad part is everyone knows it except themselves. Although I'm not protestant, they at least have a better idea of the truth behind the matter because they know their bible. You heard the gentleman quote scripture, he knew exactly where God is very clear on idol worship.. IDOLATRY. Sadly, there's no excuse for ignorance.

[@lukethedrifter100]

@@electricrussellette their not anti Catholic, their anti idolatry, which Catholics practise, praying to stone, kissing stone, bowing down to images, Mary worshippers

[@frankzappaspussy7362]

if they had kneecapped a Catholic Priest who was fucking children - they would be fecking heroes.. but this was just arseholes trying to inflict their opinions on others..

[@rosecaruana1409]

P