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	Priest on $8.6m Theft Charge Takes Trip By Jason O'Brien Irish Independent July 20, 2007 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-on-86m-theft-charge-takes-trip-1040470.html Boston (MA) — One of the two Irish priests accused of misappropriating $8.6m (€6.2m) from a church in Florida started a two-week break in Boston yesterday, on a bond of $400,000 (€290,000). Fr John Skehan, originally from Johnstown in Kilkenny, was allowed to make the trip for a "family gathering" after applying to a circuit court in Florida. The 80-year-old is charged with felony grand theft for allegedly stealing money while a priest at St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. Along with Fr Francis Guinan (64) originally from outside Birr in Co Offaly, he is alleged to have spent offertory collections on girlfriends, gambling and foreign holidays. Both men are free on bail of $40,000, but it is understood that Fr Skehan has a steeper bond of $400,000 for the Boston trip and is required to regularly check in with authorities. He also had to hand over any passports to the court. When Fr Skehan was contacted,he declined to comment. "My attorney would be very upset if I said anything," Fr Skehan said. "God bless." The grand theft charge is punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison.
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