Sea lion statue theft upsets Clive widow

A widow in Clive is pleading for thieves to return a sentimental garden sculpture that was given to her late husband as a gift nearly four decades years ago.

Ada McIlroy was left angry and upset when she awoke to find a concrete sea lion sculpture at the front of her garden for nearly 40 years had been stolen in the night.

"My children bought it for my late husband. It's just sentimental value but I'm angry someone could come on to my property and take it.

The statue was similar to the one in this photo.

"There must have been more than one of them because it was made of heavy concrete. I don't know if we'll get it back. You can't get things like that now, they don't make them anymore.

"I've lived here for nearly 60 years and nothing like this has happened before."

The sea lion sculpture had been bought as a present for late husband Pat, who used to work at Marineland.

McIlroy's daughter-in-law and her grandchildren had been posting about the theft on Facebook to help.

Ada McIlroy is upset thieves came on to her property and took the garden sculpture. Photo / Paul Taylor

"They have got so many hits about it, so hopefully something will come of that."

The theft had been reported to police but McIlroy also asked that the perpetrators bring back the statue.

"Bring it back please, it's of no importance to anybody else but to our family."