NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish News
A CATHOLIC priest who admitted embezzling £145,000 of parish funds to give to a woman apologised for his actions yesterday as he avoided going to prison.
However, as Fr Conleth Byrne – who was given a two-year suspended sentence – left Downpatrick Crown Court he still gave no explanation for stealing the money from his former Co Down parish.
Judge David Smyth said while Byrne maintained he took the money for charitable purposes “given the size of these I have approached this with some scepticism”.
Byrne pleaded guilty last month to defrauding Loughinisland parish over a 19-month period between 2008 and 2009.
The court had heard that Byrne, who was parish priest at the time, gave the money to Marie Hanna who came to the village’s parochial house claiming to be in “dire need” of financial help after being released from prison.
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