A paralympic athlete who had his carbon fibre blade stolen has received a replacement one ahead of competing in an international event in Berlin next week.
Monaghan athlete Shane McLaughlin said the new blade has been tested and small adjustments have been made.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr McLaughlin said the blade is identical to the one that was stolen, but the socket is newer.
He said it has been an expensive replacement but the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire and Ability Matters have paid for the cost of it.
Mr McLaughlin said he has not given up hope that the old blade will be found and he has appealed to whoever stole it to give it back, and said he does not intend to press charges.
"All I appeal for is to get the other blade back. Just leave it back wherever and whenever and if they don't want to contact someone, just leave it at the side of the road, at the side of a hedge, where it's going to be noticeable and somebody will come along and they will contact the guards, or else they will contact me at my home house.
"Personally, I’m not going to do anything and if the Garda Síochána in Clones or Monaghan want to prosecute, that's up to the gardaí," he said.
The 42-year-old, who had his left leg amputated in 2012, is due to compete in the Berlin Open, an international paralympic competition that begins on 19 June.
His original blade was stolen from his car outside his home in Clonkeencole in Clones on 5 June.
