The five historic mummies in the crypt of St Michan’s Church in Dublin were reportedly destroyed after a man set fire to them.
The incident occurred around 4.30pm at the historic church on Church Street in Dublin 7.
The man gained entry to the crypt and started the fire, leading to the destruction of the mummified remains.
Dublin Fire Brigade and gardaí responded to the scene, extinguished the fire, and ensured the area was safe.
A Garda spokesperson shared: “a man was later arrested in connection with the incident, for an alleged offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, and is currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in the Dublin area. Investigations are ongoing.”
David Pierpoint Vicar of Saint Michan’s shared “this is disastrous for Dublin, disastrous for history and disastrous for the parish. The parish depends on income from our tourists and if we’ve no crypts to show people, then we have very little money coming in. We’re not sure now what’s going to happen. The National Museum might be able to take the mummified bodies away, and by doing that, then they may be able to salvage something. But we’re really pretty certain that they’ve been destroyed. The fire itself hadn’t caused that much damage. Most of the damage was done by water, but I’m not blaming the fire brigade at all. That is their duty to put out a fire because if the fire had got hold, the whole church would be gone. So, I’m grateful for their and quick and active support.”
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson shared “the irreversible loss is something that will sadden generations, not only people of Dublin and school groups, but international visitors who make a point of coming to St Michan’s when they come to Dublin because they experience something unique. It’s partly got to do with the climate, it’s partly got to do with the conservation, but the fact that people who were a part of the Crusades were buried here and now it seems that that option will not be open for them. The devastating impact on the opportunity to engage with something that is of history and a fascination to people has now been taken away from us. The mummified bodies are of people who lived and who died, so there is something within this which is a desecration and a sacrilege as well. Saint Michan’s and its crypt are a “part of the history of Dublin.”
