“Nobody was disrespectful. Certainly there were people who were indifferent, people who did not know exactly what was going on, but there were people who stopped and blessed themselves and wanted a blessing,” Bishop Cullinan said.

The God who is our Father is forever creator, life-giver. Not in spite of darkness, pain and death but in and through them – Bishop Brendan Kelly.

Keith Wheeler has been travelling around the world with his cross for over thirty years as a pilgrim of peace with a message of reconciliation and love.

“The destruction of these places of worship is at odds with the fundamental human right to worship freely according to the beliefs and principles of all those in the jungle.”

Video sent to TheJournal.ie showed the cutting down of the cross with an angle grinder.

Vandalising of five metre steel cross sparks debate over whether Christian symbols should be placed on public landmarks.

A “huge new generation is emerging whose faith has to be nourished in a new way”.