DELIGHTED staff at O’Connell’s Butchers in Little Catherine Street are celebrating the return of Pete the ‘Pignapped’ Pig.
Pete – the wooden pig statue which has been outside the shop for 40 years – was stolen a week ago and the shop staff were baffled as to why anyone would want to make off with him.
“We offered a reward, no questions asked and last week a gentleman came in having spotted him in a lane off Dominic Street,” shop manager Anton Togher told the Limerick Post.
“He was a good Samaritan and he claimed the reward. Pete was a small bit damaged at the back so we gave him a new coat of varnish and a little TLC and now he’s outside the door again but in chains so this won’t happen again,” said Anton.
Pete has been a popular fixture in the street outside O’Connell’s, which has been serving customers since 1919.
“The shop is small and parents have to leave children in buggies outside the door where they can see them. The kids chat away to Pete while they’re waiting. They love him, especially at times like Christmas, when we dress him up,” Anton explained.
“We have a lovely street here – it’s pedestrianised and there are fantastic restaurants and shops. It’s always busy and Pete adds to the atmosphere.”
The manager said that all ten staff are delighted to have him back, including his pal, ‘Billy’, the life-sized butcher statue “except for the person who has to put him out and take him in every night – he weighs a ton!”
“We still don’t know why anyone would take him. People were saying it was students but the reports of sightings we got were of two adult men carrying him”.
Anton added that he is “really grateful to the Limerick Post and all the Limerick media. It’s thanks to all of you that we got him back. The media publicity meant he was the talk of the city and parts of the county for the last week”.
