Six years later, the stolen heart of St. Lawrence O’Toole has been recovered

The heart of St. Lawrence O’Toole has been recovered after it was stolen six years ago. According to BBC, “an intelligence-led investigation” directed Irish police to find the stolen relic unharmed, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Back in 2012, the caretakers of Christ Church Cathedral, in Dublin, were perplexed as they opened the church to find the relic had been removed from its iron cage-like protective display. It is believed that the thief hid in the church overnight and used bolt cutters to pry the iron bars open before removing the heart, which is held in a protective heart-shaped wooden case.

What made this heist even more mysterious was that the offender passed over golden chalices and candlesticks in favor of the artifact, which Rev. Dermot Dunne explains, “has no economic value, but it is a priceless treasure that links our present foundation with its founding father, St Laurence O’Toole.”

The perpetrator also lit two peace candles at Trinity alter before making off with St. Lawrence’s heart. One of these candles was still flickering when the church was found plundered in the morning. The motives for this unorthodox crime are still unknown.

Authorities are still examining the relic as evidence, but are scheduled to turn it over to Rev. Dr. Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Thursday evening.