UNITED STATES
Irish Central
By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Monday, September 24, 2012\
An Irish priest who used parish funds for trips to Las Vegas and presents for his mistress has vowed to win his status as a priest back after getting out of prison early.
When Fr Francis Guinan was sentenced for four years in a Florida prison for embezzling the Church’s money, he was also defrocked and banned from ever setting foot again in his former parish.
According to the Irish Mail on Sunday, the 69-year-old priest from Birr, Co. Offaly, insists he is innocent. He hopes that if he is given a chance to explain his story during a Church tribunal review, he will have the opportunity be a priest again.
“What people heard in the court when I was jailed was not the whole truth. There was a picture that was painted of me that was not true. All I can hope is that when my case is looked at again, people will learn different facts. I want my side of the story to be heard. How I have been portrayed is not right. I am innocent,” he told the Daily Mail.
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