Video footage of the cutting down of the cross on Kerry’s Carrauntoohill mountain has emerged online.

The short film segment, which was sent to journal.ie, shows an unidentified figure felling the cross with an angle grinder. It also asks those who agree with the action to share the segment. Those responsible for the video claim to have carried out the cross’s destruction in protest at the number of schools run by the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Gardaí believe the attack on the Carrauntoohill cross was carried out around November 22, during which a commemorartive plaque was also stolen from the summit.

The Carrauntoohill cross has stood on the mountain’s summit since 1976, though there has been some form of crucifix present on the peak since the 1950s.

Despite the intentions of the vandals, the action against the cross served to unite people in condemning the incident, while the local community worked to quickly restore the cross to its original setting, despite objections from Atheist Ireland.

Responding to the incident, local Fine Gael TD, Brendan Griffin reacted strongly to what he described as “an act of shameless vandalism”.

“What can we expect next?” he asked. “Will these people start burning down churches or attacking people on their way to Mass?”

Gardaí are continuing their investigation into the incident and have been in receipt of a copy of the video footage for examination.

The cross has since been restored by locals.