‘Deadly curse’ forces thieves to return relic
AN 800-YEAR-OLD stolen relic has been recovered after thieves feared it held a “deadly curse”, it can be revealed.
The heart of St Laurence O’Toole was taken from Christ Church Cathedral in 2012 but was returned last night after it was recovered by gardaí in the Phoenix Park.
Two members of a travelling crime gang were previously arrested in relation to the crime.
Gardaí believe that the relic was “passed around” within the gang’s community, but after some people died of heart failure, it was believed it was bringing bad luck.
“People within that community apparently died of heart attacks since that relic was stolen and a decision seems to have been made the relic should be returned to its rightful place,” a source said.
AN 800-year-old relic of Dublin’s patron saint has been recovered after thieves feared it held a “deadly curse”, it can be revealed.
The heart of St Laurence O’Toole was taken from Christ Church Cathedral in 2012. The brazen thieves waited overnight in the cathedral and cut through the metal cage that contained the relic. It also emerged the two suspects lit two candles before making off with the heart the next morning.
A long-running investigation by An Garda Síochána led to the recovery of the heart in the Phoenix Park earlier this month.
Two members of a travelling crime gang were previously twice arrested in relation to the crime and remain the only suspects in the case despite never being charged.
Gardaí believe that the relic may have been “passed around” over the last six years within the gang’s community.
It’s understood that individuals feared the relic was somehow responsible for the deaths of people close to the thieves from apparent heart attacks.
“The reason why this relic is back where it belongs is that members of a certain community felt that it was cursed and was bringing nothing but bad luck on the people in that community,” a senior source said.
“A number of people within that community apparently died of heart attacks since that relic was stolen and a decision seems to have been made that the relic should be returned to its rightful place.”
Sources say it is most likely gardaí received a tip-off about the relic’s whereabouts and Det Supt Sean Campbell, of Blanchardstown Garda station, led the recovery operation.
The Irish Independent can reveal one of the suspects for stealing the relic in March 2012 is a ruthless west Dublin criminal who was previously arrested in relation to cars used in the unsolved gangland murder of Christopher Zambra in Drimnagh in May 2014.
The Clondalkin criminal was also suspected of involvement in a ruthless ‘tiger’ kidnapping in Leinster a number of years ago in which a family was tied up.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy, who is in charge of policing in Dublin, said in a statement yesterday that it was a privilege to be able to return the relic.
“As assistant commissioner for Dublin, it gives me enormous pleasure to return such a valuable relic to its rightful place among the people of Dublin,” he said.
Last night, he joined a procession of Church dignitaries in a special choral evensong Mass celebrating the return.
The heart, secured with a gold tassel, was presented to Archbishop Michael Jackson at the altar as the Christ Church Cathedral choir performed in joyful celebration of its return.
“Forgive us if the return is somewhat triumphant,” the church’s dean, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne, told the congregation. “We are delighted that this special piece of our history has been returned to its home.”
Archbishop Jackson said the return of the heart was of huge significance to the people of Dublin.