The summit of Carrauntoohil, with the 16ft cross which has now been cut down

The summit of Carrauntoohil, with the 16ft cross which has now been cut down

A large metal cross that stood at the summit of Ireland’s highest mountain has been cut down.

The 5m (16ft) structure was erected on top of 1,038m (3,406ft) Carrauntoohil in 1976, but a group of walkers making the ascent to the peak recently discovered it had been cut at its base.

Gardaí are investigating the incident, which was described by nearby Beaufort Community Council as an act of vandalism.

The council organised the erection of the cross and local volunteers made the ascent nearly 40 years ago with the cross in sections and it was welded together on the mountain, which lies in MacGillycuddy’s Reeks in County Kerry.

Local guide Piaras Kelly said he believed an angle grinder or something similar much have been used to cut down the cross.

Writing on the Kerry Climbing website, he said: “Horrified today while guiding a group from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland to witness the result of a total act of vandalism on Corrán Tuathail [the Irish spelling of the mountain] with the summit cross after being cut down.

“An iconic cross on an iconic peak now lying where it fell. It beggars belief how no matter what one’s personal attitude to this cross could then bring them to sinking to this unprecedented low and acting in such a shocking way. A sad day for sure.”

MacGillycuddy’s Reeks Mountain Access Forum said they will be organising the re-erection of the cross.