Gardaí recover priceless Rubens painting stolen in 1986 heist

GARDAÍ are continuing to track down two missing paintings stolen in the country’s biggest ever art heist after officers recovered another piece.

Detectives located the painting, by the great 17th century Baroque master Rubens, on the northside of Dublin on Tuesday.

It was one of 18 works stolen by Martin Cahill from the Beit collection in Russborough House in 1986.

There are now only two paintings, by Guardi, an 18th century painter, still miss ing.

A garda spokesman said the recovery was the result of intelligence gathered by the art and antiques unit of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Raymond Keaveney, director of the National Gallery of Ireland and member of the Alfred Beit Foundation, welcomed the find.

“The trustees are delighted, that it’s returned and back in their care. It’s a major achievement by the gardaí.”

He said the painting, entitled Head of a Man, was a significant painting.

“It’s an important work by Rubens, one of the great masters of the 17th century. It’s in very good condition.”

The painting, dated 1615, is thought to represent the cavalier Erycius Puteanus (1574-1645).

It’s the second Rubens to be recovered since the 1986 robbery by Martin Cahill, alias The General. The other Rubens, Portrait of a Monk, was recovered in March 1993.

The other paintings were discovered in Turkey, Belgium and Ireland.

Mr Keaveney said the fact that the painting was found here after all these years underlined the near impossibility of offloading major works of art.

The painting is being held in the National Gallery where experts will examine it to see if it needs any attention.

Mr Keaveney said that it could be back on display by summer 2003.

Meanwhile, gardaí are continuing to investigate last year’s multi-million euro robbery at Russborough House, when two major paintings were stolen.

The paintings, Madam Bacelli by Thomas Gainsborough, worth 2.5m, and The Scene of Florence by Bernado Belloto, worth 1.27m, have not been seen since, but are considered unsellable.

One man, John Kearns, from Terenure, Dublin, has been charged in connection with the robbery.

Mr Keaveney said that the security at the house was constantly being reviewed at the Palladian-style Russborough House which is located in Blessington, Co Wicklow.

“Measures are being taken and security has been upgraded. We are getting the best advice. As the board we are aware that one has responsibilities and this involves providing the best security. But no system is 100% secure,” he said.