Heartless thieves steal city’s holiest relic

Thieves have stolen the preserved heart of Dublin’s patron saint from the city’s Christ Church cathedral.

In the latest in a spate of holy relic raids to hit the Irish Republic, the 12th-century heart of Saint Laurence O’ Toole was taken from Saint Lauds Chapel within the cathedral.

Police believe the theft took place some time between Friday night and around 12:30pm Saturday afternoon.

The saint’s preserved heart was kept in a wooden heart-shaped container sealed within a small iron barred box.

The latest theft follows two others in recent months.

In January, a holy shrine that normally contains a relic of St Brigid was stolen from a church as worshippers prepared for the patron saint’s feast day.

Last October in Co Tipperary, another ancient relic, believed to be from the actual cross on which Jesus was crucified, was stolen.

The priceless artefact was returned to Holycross Abbey, near Thurles, earlier this year.