12th century heart stolen from Christ Church

The 12th century preserved heart of St Laurence O'Toole has been stolen from Christ Church Cathedral.

The heart is kept in a wooden heart-shaped container sealed within a small iron-barred box in St Laud's chapel in Christ Church Cathedral.

Born Lorcan Ua Tuathail in Castledermot, Co Kildare, in 1128, Laurence (Lorcan) O’Toole was appointed Archbishop of Dublin after the death of Archbishop Gregory in 1162.

He died in November 1180 in Normandy, France.

The former church leader was canonised in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.

Gardaí believe that the theft of his preserved heart occurred sometime between yesterday evening and 12.30pm today.

They wish to speak to anyone who may have visited the chapel between yesterday evening and 12.30 today and who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious to contact them.

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.

Thieves made off with the rare Celtic-designed reliquary – an ornate container for relics – which was screwed into the altar at St Brigid’s Church in Killester, north Dublin.

Parish officials had only removed the relic weeks beforehand as the distinctive press, worth €10,000, was being restored.

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

That priceless artefact was returned to Holycross Abbey, near Thurles, at the start of the year after gardaí carried out a search in the midlands.