Courts / Dublin / Report

Theft of 800-year-old "Crusader's" head and damage of mummies "devastating" for church, court hears

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Theft of 800-year-old "Crusader's" head and damage of mummies "devastating" for church, court hears. Charges or matters: burglary of the vaults between February 23 and 24 last. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 23 Incident
• February 25 Incident
• 2019-07-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report