NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Independent
Dedorah McAleese– 10 April 2013
A PRIEST who “naively” gave almost £150,000 (€175,000) of parish funds to a woman he believed to be destitute has pleaded guilty to fraud.
Fr Conleth Byrne (78) told police he paid the money to Marie Hanna from Ballycastle, Co Antrim, over a 19-month period out of “charity” after she begged him for financial help, a court was told.
The retired parish priest pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud by abuse of position just before his trial was due to begin at Downpatrick Crown Court.
Fr Byrne was a priest in Loughinisland, Co Down, when Ms Hanna, who is in her 50s, called at the parochial house in September 2007 and claimed to be in “dire need” of financial assistance, the court heard.
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