Order of St Patrick

In January 1908, six months after the theft, a vice-regal commission is established.

To investigate the circumstances of the loss of the regalia of the Order of St. Patrick and to inquire whether Sir Arthur Vickers exercised due vigilance and proper care as the custodian thereof.

He felt, and he was probably right, that it was a star chamber affair.

This term originates from an English court that sat at Westminster from the 14th to the 16th century.

Author and historian Miles Dungan has researched this case for years.

The Irish crown jewels were the insignia of the Order of St Patrick.

There are titles and roles involved in this story that could get a bit confusing, so I'll try to explain them as simply as I can as we go along.

The Order of St Patrick is a senior order of chivalry, where knighthoods are given by the crown for service to monarch or state.

The star of this story, as far as I'm concerned, is Mrs Farrell.

Well, usually the star of a Jew's heist is the person who stole them.

R.L. Weston, host of History Calling, explains

"The Irish Crown Jewels were the insignia of the Chivalric Order of St. Patrick, which had been founded in 1783 as a counterpart to the English Order of the Garter and the Scottish Order of the Thistle."

You should know that the Irish Crown Jewels were in no way comparable to the more famous British crown jewels, whose value is somewhere between $4 and $6 billion.

Those are under heavy guard in the Tower of London, and on display to any tourist anxious to gaze upon them.

There was also a dazzling badge.

Here's Ms. Weston again.

As for the Badge of the Order of St. Patrick, it was, quote, "Set in silver, containing a trefoil in emeralds on a ruby cross, surrounded by a sky blue enameled circle, with Quis separabit MDCCL XXXIII in rose diamonds in a circle of large Brazilian stones, surmounted by a harp in diamonds and a loop."

The library safe also contained five collars, or heavy bejeweled necklaces, encrusted with emeralds, diamonds, and other rare gems to be worn by the Knights of the Order.