'She deserves respect' - Famous statue in Dublin to get protected from people 'groping her'
The Molly Malone statue has discoloured over time
Dublin's famed Molly Malone statue is set to get personal protection in a bid to stop people from 'groping'.
The statue of the famous fishmonger, which stands on Grafton street, was erected in 1988 but has become discoloured in recent years from continuous touching from tourists.
Dublin City Council (DCC) has said they will hire stewards to protect the statue on a pilot basis in May, a similar role was held by stewards following anti-social behaviour at the Dublin portal.
The tradition of touching the statue's bust for "good luck" is believed to have started around 2012 and is alleged to have been instigated by an "imaginative tour guide".
DCC Arts Officer Ray Yeates has stressed this is not an April's Fools Day joke and that the "tradition" has caused upset among locals but there are also health and safety issues when people lean on the plinth to touch it.
Dublin City Historian Catherine Scuffil has also spoke out on how the statue may not be just a legendary figure but strong evidence points to her being a real person from the Liberties are in Dublin.
Ms Scuffil, a relation the the statue's sculptor, has said the "groping" of the statue is not what the late artist would have intended and she believes the statue "deserves more respect".