Clonard athlete pleads for return of stolen gold medals

A Clonard athlete is pleading for the return of two Down Syndrome European Championships gold medals that were taken from Aura in Trim yesterday evening.

Liam Foley (26) is distraught after discovering a bag containing the two gold medals he won at the Sport Union for Athletes with Down Syndrome European Championships in Italy last month was stolen from the facility after a training session.

Trim AC member Liam, set a new European record in the 800m, Men’s race with a time of 2:55.63, a phenomenal achievement for his first-ever international track event.

The seasoned road runner also won another Gold in the 1500m, Mens race by beating the Italian Athlete at the line, making him a double European Champion.

His mum Geraldine Regan is appealing for the return of the cherished medals.

“There was nothing of value in the bag, the medals are of no value to anybody except Liam,”she said.

“They were well deserved and hard earned and didn’t come easily,”she added.

Liam was “devastated” when he realised his precious medals were in the bag that was stolen as Geraldine explains.

"He had his bag in the locker but he left his key in the pocket of a jacket in the cubicle, the key was accessible to people and when he went back, the bag wasn’t in the locker,”she said.

“He is very upset, he didn’t remember until later on that the medals were in the bag and was more concerned about his phone charger and his work badge.

“But then panic set in. He has worked so hard for those medals, you don’t win medals for your country everyday."

Geraldine is asking anyone who finds the medals to hand them into Aura, Trim or contact Gardai.