A 35-year-old man has been charged with burglary over the theft of the mummified head of an 800-year-old "Crusader" knight from St Michan's Church in Dublin.
Brian Bridgeman, with an address at Kings Inns Street, Dublin 1, appeared before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court on Thursday evening. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Garda Niall Cadden.
The man, who has not yet indicated how he will plead, “made no reply” when charged, the court heard.
The judge asked Garda Cadden if the case related to recent matters he had read about in the newspapers. The garda confirmed it did and the court heard directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were awaited. He also objected to bail.
Legal aid was granted following an application by defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght. The judge agreed to grant bail in the defendant’s own bond of €200 of which €100 must be lodged before he can be released. Conditions included that he must reside at another address furnished to the court, sign on daily at Blanchardstown Garda station, obey a 10pm – 6am curfew and be contactable at all times by mobile phone.
The man, who remained silent during the hearing, was remanded in custody with consent to bail on these terms and will face his next hearing on March 21st at Cloverhill District Court.
Last week another man, in his twenties, was arrested as part of the investigation but he was later released without charge.
The Crusader was decapitated at the crypt in St Michan’s, Church Street, sometime over the weekend of February 23rd and 24th last. The head was taken along with another skull. On March 5th, investigating gardaí from the Bridewell station recovered both.