A 36-year-old man has admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800-year-old 'Crusader' knight from a church in Dublin.
The crusader was decapitated at the crypt in St Michan's Church, Church Street in February and stolen, along with another skull.
The break-in was discovered when a guide was about to open the church for visitors but discovered the head had been severed from its mummified body and was missing.
In March, gardaí recovered both the head of the crusader and the second skull.
Brian Bridgeman, with an address at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin, appeared before the city's Circuit Criminal Court yestterday and pleaded guilty to entering the vaults of St Michan's as a trespasser and committing theft.
He was remanded in custody, with sentencing adjourned until July 24.
Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson had described his outrage at the incident, saying it had led to the desecration of a sacred crypt and destruction of historic mummies which have been preserved in the church for centuries.
