Thieves have vandalised the crypt of a Church of Ireland church in Dublin and taken the head of an 800 year old mummy known as ‘The Crusader’.

The crypt of St Michan’s Church on Church Street, Dublin 7, has been badly damaged and several of the mummies, including the 400 year old remains of a nun, have been desecrated in the incident. The Crusader’s body was turned over and his head has been removed.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Michael Jackson, has expressed sadness and outrage at the incident. “I am shocked that someone would target this ancient burial place and desecrate the remains of those lying within it,” he stated.

The Archdeacon of the group of parishes of which St Michan’s is part, David Pierpoint, described the actions of the vandals as “devastating and sacrilegious”.