Meath GAA star's All Ireland medal stolen in burglary has been recovered
The All Ireland final medal belonging to Meath legend Martin O'Connell which was stolen in a burglary at his parents home has been recovered.
It was found in Dublin earlier today and has been returned to the owner, according to Gardai.
Meath GAA star Martin O’Connell had launched an appeal for the return of his treasured 1987 medal that was taken from parent’s home in Staholmog near Carlanstown last Tuesday evening.
The three-time All-Ireland winner’s elderly parents, Marie and Paddy, were in the house at the time of the break in that occurred around 6.30pm. They were not aware of intruders.
A Golden Jubilee medal was also among the items stolen which is said to be of huge sentimental value.
"It was brilliant to get the medal back. I got a call yesterday evening from the Garda Station in Kells and thank God it was recovered," he told the Meath Chronicle today.
"It was found somewhere in Dublin, I dont' really know the details, I'll just leave it up to them. I'm just deligthed to have it back.
"It was terrible on my mother and father when it disappeared from their hosue
Sporting legend, O’Connell, who had had the gold medal placed on a chain for his proud mum Marie to wear to display her son’s outstanding achievement, and who was hoping to pass the historic medal on to his 26-year-old daughter Jane, had said he was “devastated” at its disappearance.
"I felt a great relief it wasn't a nice thing to happen to my mother and father, they were in the house at the time it happened it would have been an awful lot worse of course if anything happened to them."
"It was terrible on my mother and father when it disappeared from their house
"It’s only really when you get to my age you really appreciate their worth.
“When you are playing and win them you think nothing of them but they mean a lot more to you when you are finished.”
“It’s a solid gold medal well engraved with a Celtic cross on it and an Mhi 1987 All Ireland is stamped on the back so it should be recognised very handy if someone is trying to sell it.
“I don’t know how much it is worth but it is priceless to me.
“I gave my mother my first All Ireland medal as a birthday present probably about 20 years ago.
As well as the medal, his mother’s wedding ring, a watch, all her earrings, everything gold was taken.
“It happened about 6.30pm and by 6.55pm the house phone rang and my mother got up out of the kitchen to answer the phone and she didn’t notice anything, everything was done and dusted at that stage.
“It was only when my brother came back and noticed a bit of muck outside the house where they were after getting in and he went up to his room and noticed his press was wide open and five jackets belonging to him were taken and that’s when he knew there was something wrong.
“He went down to my mother’s room where everything was thrown around and the presses were ransacked.
“Blood, sweat and tears went into getting that medal, it’s a horrible feeling but hopefully it might turn up somewhere," said O'Connell in the wake of the incident.
Thankfully that's what's happened.
Gardai thanked everybody who shared their appeal. "The publicity in this case directly resulted in the medals recovery," said a spokesperson. Kells Gardai are still investigating the break-in.
O'Connell played for Meath for 13 years winning six Leinster SFC titles, three NFL crowns, three All-Irelands and three All stars and he was also named on the GAA Football team of the Millennium.
O'Connell won the last of his three All-Ireland SFC medals in 1996 when he was also named the Texaco Footballer of the Year. He played his final championship game for the Royals against Kildare in 1997 before retiring from the inter-county scene in 1998.