An 800-Year-Old Mummy Head Was Stolen From An Irish Church
The head of an 800-year-old mummy known as "The Crusader" was stolen from the crypts beneath St. Michan's Church in Ireland. The church was founded in 1095 and houses five crypts in which the mummified remains of prominent Dubliners remain from 1600 to 1800. Along with the head that was stolen, several other remains disturbed, including a nun whose body dates back 400 years.
The damage to the bodies was discovered by a guide at St. Michan's Church on February 25, 2019, as he was preparing to open the church to the public. According to the Church of Ireland, the vandals are suspected to have broken into the underground vaults of the church over the weekend. Supposedly, They broke open that vault, it's a big heavy steel door, and broke open one of the coffins," says Archdeacon of Dublin, David Pierpoint.
Pierpoint added in his statement "These are people who have been lying at rest for years and years and to have them desecrated in such a sacrilegious way is so distressing and disturbing. I can't put it in words, I'm quite disgusted." He also urges the thieves to return the head to where it belongs.
Since the vandals broke open the vaults, they have begun to worry that the open air will further damage many of the bodies in the vaults. Currently, tours have been canceled and an investigation by Ireland's police is underway.
