State warehouse ‘cleaned out’ of historic art

A major Garda investigation is underway after the theft of State-owned paintings. The heist from a government warehouse only came to light when a civil servant saw one of the paintings for sale on the internet.

When staff at the Department of Arts checked the facility where the painting was supposed to be, they found many works had been taken.

The theft has prompted a full inventory of all art in storage by the department. The Irish Examiner could not confirm last night information it had received in relation to where the paintings came from or the paintings involved. Indications suggested the paintings were from a historic home in the hands of the State.