Patron Saint's Heart Stolen from Dublin Cathedral

The 12th century preserved heart of the patron saint of Dublin was stolen from a cathedral in the center of the Irish capital, police said on Saturday.

The heart of Saint Laurence O'Toole was taken from Christ Church Cathedral between Friday evening and 12.30pm (12:30 GMT) on Saturday, police said.

It was kept in a wooden heart-shaped container sealed within a small iron cage in the cathedral, which was founded in 1028 and remains one of Dublin's finest buildings.

Born in eastern Ireland in 1128, O'Toole was a reforming archbishop of Dublin who was well-loved in the city for the charity he provided when famine struck.

Also known as Lorcan Ua Tuathail, he died at Eu in northern France in 1180 and was canonized 45 years later.