Case No. 2274Arson · Co. Dublin · 11 Jun 2024
Man jailed for six years for arson in St Michan's Church crypt, Dublin
Cristian Topiter, 39, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to arson for starting a fire in the crypt of St Michan's Church, Dublin, which damaged mummified remains dating back 800 years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe fire caused damage to mummified remains (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe mummified remains had been preserved for hundreds of years by natural means (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe church provides annual revenues of between €75,000 to €100,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatWater used to put out the fire caused damage to other remains (irishtimes.com)
- whatAncient relics were damaged, if not destroyed (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe church was built in 1192 (irishtimes.com)
- whereTopiter lives at Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTopiter pleaded guilty to arson (irishtimes.com)
- courtTopiter appeared via video link at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceTopiter was jailed for six years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe six-year sentence was backdated to 11 June 2024 when Topiter went into custody (irishtimes.com)
- otherTopiter has a previous conviction for arson from Northern Ireland causing €300,000 worth of damage to a building (irishtimes.com)
- otherTopiter has previous convictions for possession of drugs, burglary, theft and common assault (irishtimes.com)
- otherTopiter has addiction issues and long-standing mental health difficulties (irishtimes.com)
- otherTopiter had been drinking heavily and taking tablets on the day of the fire (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Feb2025‘An act of desecration’: Man jailed for six years for starting fire in Dublin church crypt
Sentencing report including victim impact statement from Archdeacon David Pierpoint, defence submissions on addiction and mental health, and Judge Martin Nolan's remarks describing the offence as 'very serious'.
convicted, Cristian Topiter, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Cristian Topitervictim, David Pierpoint, male, irish (judged from name)David Pierpoint