Two antique silver mace heads stolen from a library in Armagh last week were discovered yesterday outside a Garda station in north Co Dublin. However, the original printed manuscript of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, which was stolen at the same time, is still missing. Detectives from the Garda's National Bureau of Criminal investigation and RUC detectives in Armagh are investigating how the mace heads came to be abandoned outside Balbriggan Garda station on Monday evening.
The heads, dating to the 17th century, are valued at £50,000 and were stolen from Armagh's Robinson Library by armed robbers last Wednesday. The Swift manuscript is valued at £30,000 because it contained the author's handwritten notes.
The Robinson Library, officially called Armagh Public Library, was founded by Arch bishop Robinson of Armagh in the 18th century and all the items stolen belong to the archbishop.
During the robbery, two men held a gun to the head of a 20-year-old library assistant and tied her up. They then systematically smashed glass cases containing the artefacts.
Other items taken in the robbery include a miniature Koran, a 1611 Geneva Bible, several small prayer books and some medallions.
The mace heads were discovered in a plastic bag at about 10 p.m. and were taken to Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park yesterday.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, said he was "delighted that part of the haul has been recovered, they are of immense heritage value".