Paul Carolan at the Lia Fáil stone at Tara yesterday (Tuesday) with the damage to the stone evident.

One of Ireland's most sacred monuments - the Lia Fáil or Stone of Destiny - on the Hill of Tara, which served as the coronation stone for the High Kings of Ireland - has been vandalised.

The attack - by someone wielding a hammer or iron bar - has horrified archaeologists, historians and ordinary members of the public who view the stone as a central part of Irish mythology.

The attack on the stone was discovered by a local historian on Saturday, and the damage has been inspected by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the National Monuments Service. The incident has been reported to the gardai.

The monument sustained numerous heavy and deep pockmarks on the stone. The OPW confirmed the damage yesterday, saying it appeared the stone had been struck a number of times, and while it was not sure when the attack occurred, the gardai had been made aware of the incident. "The damage has been inspected and recorded by our colleagues in the National Monuments Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. While we cannot be certain of what exactly happened at the stone, it would appear that it may have been an incident of wanton vandalism," a spokesperson said.

To read the full story, see this week's Meath Chronicle.