A statue of the Virgin Mary has been returned undamaged to its rightful place in a Cork city neighbourhood, just 24 hours after it was noticed missing.

Residents of Horgan’s Buildings near University College Cork awoke on Tuesday morning to find that the statue that forms the centrepiece of their neighbourhood grotto had been removed — and with Fresher’s Week now in full swing, the finger of blame was being pointed at students.

UCC’s Students’ Union promptly intervened and asked whoever was responsible to anonymously return the statue to its office, no questions asked.

Lord Mayor Mary Shields praised the college’s Students’ Union and said she is ‘heartened’ that the statue was dropped off unscathed.

“There was no malice involved and they didn’t realise how much upset it would cause,” Councillor Shields told Independent.ie.

“I am delighted to see the Students’ Union getting involved in something like this, it is very responsible of them to say ‘we’ll intervene here’. It might seem like a small issue to many but people were very upset.

“I am very heartened by this action and I will be writing to the Students Union to congratulate them,” she added.