The brazen theft of the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign sparked a national debate over alleged shortcomings in the security system at the memorial site of the former Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

Three men who admitted stealing the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign from Auschwitz were made to re-enact the event for investigators today.

President Mary McAleese is to join world leaders at Auschwitz in Poland to mark the liberation of the Nazi death camp, it emerged today.