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Garda Press Office
A file photo of the Relic of the True Cross which was stolen from a church in Co Laois on Wednesday.
# Stolen Relic
'Relic of the True Cross' stolen from Co Laois church
A 3mm-by-3mm piece of wood, kept in a pewter case, was stolen from a case inside Holy Cross Church in Co Laois.
A RELIC containing a piece of what is thought to be the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified has been stolen from a church in Co Laois.
Gardaí this afternoon revealed that the ‘Relic of the True Cross’ was taken from Holy Cross Church in Killeshin, just east of Portlaoise, at some time between 10am and 5:30pm on Wednesday.
The piece of the cross – measuring about 3mm by 3mm – was kept in a pewter case which was embedded within the wall of the church. It had been presented to the church shortly after it was built in 1822.
Gardaí said the relic had no monetary value, but was of “enormous spiritual value” to the church and its parishioners.
Officers investigating the theft have asked anyone who visited the church between 10am and 6pm on Wednesday to get in touch.
Gardaí in Abbeyleix can be contacted at (057) 8730580, while anyone with information can also contact the Garda Confidential telephone line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Read: Ireland’s ancient relics – what are they and how have they survived?
