Man charged with criminal damage after fire at St Michan’s Church in Dublin

A part-time security guard has been accused of criminal damage after a fire destroyed “priceless” and “irreplaceable” ancient mummies in the crypt at St Michan’s Church in Dublin.

Christian Topiter, 38, was held in prison custody on remand pending approval of a person to stand his bail and needs €4,000 lodged in court before he can be released.

The blaze happened at around 4pm on Tuesday, and water damage is believed to have ruined five mummified remains, including an 800-year-old artefact known as ‘The Crusader’.

A tour guide raised the alarm after noticing smoke in the vault of the building on Church Street.

The Dublin Fire Brigade extinguished the flames before they spread to the rest of the building and made the area safe. No injuries have been reported.

Gardaí arrested Christian Topiter, 38, who has used various addresses and had a Romanian travel card, and he was detained at a north Dublin station overnight.

Mr Topiter, formerly of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road,…