AN 800-year-old religious relic which was stolen from a Dublin cathedral six years ago has been recovered by gardaí.
The heart of St Laurence O’Toole, patron saint of Dublin, was stolen from Christ Church Cathedral on 12 March 2012 by a thief who was believed to have hidden overnight in the cathedral.
It was stolen from an iron-barred case.
The thief also lit two peace candles on the altar of the cathedral before he left.
Six years on, gardai have found the relic undamaged following an intelligence-led investigation and a search in the Phoenix Park.
It’s back - the heart of St Laurence O’Toole has been found in the Phoenix Park #Dublin having been stolen years ago from @cccdub (JDemetrescu) #relicjoy pic.twitter.com/kfUoTvo5Rd
— John McCafferty (@jdmccafferty) April 26, 2018
Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy, who is in charge of policing Dublin, will hand over the relic to the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, at a service in Christ Church this evening.
St Laurence O’Toole became Archbishop of Dublin in 1161 and was consecrated the following year at Christ Church Cathedral.
He died in Northern France in 1180, and his body was buried in Normandy.
His heart was returned to Ireland and had been on display in the Chapel of St Laud in the cathedral until it was stolen.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Leahy said it gave him “enormous pleasure” to return the relic.
“It is appropriate to acknowledge the great work of individual gardaí who kept their radars on and their minds open in this ongoing investigation, and I commend them for their commitment and diligence on this matter.
“I am personally delighted to return the relic to Christ Church Cathedral where it can again provide a most important and tangible link to our past.”
