Stolen Munch Art Safe

Two art masterpieces by artist Edvard Munch have been recovered two years after they were stolen from an Oslo art museum. The Scream and Madonna were found in a "police action". "We are 100% certain they are the originals. The damage was much less than feared," police said. In August 2004, two armed men ripped the art from the wall after threatening a member of staff at the Munch Museum in the Norwegian capital. Three men were found guilty of charges relating to the art theft in May. The Scream, painted in 1893, is one of the world's most recognisable paintings. In May, Bjoern Hoen, Petter Tharaldsen and Petter Rosenvinge were found guilty of charges relating to the art theft and received prison sentences of between four and eight years each. Hoen and Tharaldsen were also ordered to pay 750m kroner (£66.3m) compensation to the City of Oslo to reflect the value of its lost paintings. Three other men were acquitted following the trial. All men had pleaded not guilty. For the full story - click the title Irish Art