Police in Northern Ireland believe that the theft of a fibreglass-and-steel statue of Celtic god of the sea Manannan Mac Lir in County Derry, Ireland, may have involved religious motivations.

According to the New York Times police believe the statue was removed from the remote Gortmore viewing point on Binevenagh Mountain around January 21, allegedly by religious extremists "offended by idolatry."

A five-foot wooden cross with the inscription "Thou Shalt Not Have False Gods Before Me" replaced the statue.

The cross is now in police custody as evidence.

The statue of Manannan Mac Lir is one of the many sculptures in the walking trail in Binevenagh Mountain and overlooked the Lough Foyle. It was only installed last year but had quickly become popular, the Times reported.

In the meantime, the Irish police filed a humourous Missing Persons report to seek the assistance of the public in locating the Celtic god's statue. In the report, Manannan Mac Lir is described as a "well-known, six-foot-tall striking local male with an athletic build."

"He has shoulder-length hair held back with a headband and has a beard ... We have concerns for his health in this weather, as he is bare-chested with only a thin shawl held at the neck with a decorative clasp to keep his top half warm. Evidence at the scene suggests he has injuries to his feet," the report said.

"He is a very striking (fellow) so if you have seen him please let us know," the report concluded.

The statue was sculpted by John Darren Sutton, who told the BBC that the statue was a "labour of love" and the materials used in making it held no profit for the thieves.

"I don't think whoever did this is interested in selling it on, because you can't melt it down," Mr. Sutton told the Derry Journal in a separate interview. "I hope it can be found and it's not too badly damaged," the sculptor said.