The Catholic Church has called Gardaí to investigate images apparently showing a man in priest’s vestments performing a sex act with another man on the altar of an Irish church. The church confirmed to the Irish Independent the matter had been reported to gardaí and a full investigation is expected to follow. A spokesperson for the diocese declined to comment further for legal reasons in view of “the criminal nature of the alleged incident”.

The graphic images show two men engaged in sexual activity or in intimate poses across what appears to be the altar of a small country church. They have been described as deeply sacrilegious in their depiction of a priest, or man dressed as a priest.

Any investigation will examine the veracity of the images, and the church where the act is alleged to have taken place. “The photographs depict something that appears somewhat satanic,” the source told the Irish Independent.