Man jailed for 'act of desecration and sacrilege' to mummified remains at St Michan's Church

The remains were described to the court as 'irreplaceable' and 'priceless'

The entrance to the crypt of St Michan's Church. File Picture: Leah Farrell

A man who set a fire in the crypt of St Michan's Church in Dublin, which caused damage to mummified remains, has been jailed for six years.

Archdeacon David Pierpoint described the fire in the church's crypt as “an act of desecration and sacrilege” in a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing of Cristian Topiter, aged 39, who had pleaded guilty to arson. Topiter appeared via video link at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday.