Stolen skull of decapitated Church of Ireland skeleton found

Police have recovered the decapitated head of an 800-year-old mummy that was stolen from a church in Dublin.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Mar 2019, 20:59 BST
Updated 5th Mar 2019, 22:00 BST
Undated handout photo issued by the Gardai of the decapitated head of "The Crusader" mummyUndated handout photo issued by the Gardai of the decapitated head of "The Crusader" mummy
Undated handout photo issued by the Gardai of the decapitated head of "The Crusader" mummy

The head of The Crusader was taken from a crypt in St Michan’s Church of Ireland church last month.

The crime was discovered when a guide went to open the church for visitors.

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The vault was badly damaged and several of the mummies, including the 400-year-old remains of a nun, had been desecrated.

The Crusader’s body was turned over and his head removed.

Officers from Bridewell garda station said they recovered the head of The Crusader on Tuesday and another skull that had been taken over the weekend of February 24.

A garda spokesman said: “The items were recovered as a result of information that came into the possession of the investigating gardai.

“The National Museum of Ireland are acting in an advisory capacity.

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“An Garda Siochana would like to thank the public for their assistance in the investigation, which remains ongoing.”

The Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson had described his outrage at the incident last month.

“I am shocked that someone would target this ancient burial place and desecrate the remains of those lying within it,” he said.

“Not only have these individuals desecrated the sacred crypt but they have destroyed these historic mummies which have been preserved in St Michan’s for hundreds of years.”

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