ITALY
RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) – A Roman Catholic priest from the northern Italian province of Trieste committed suicide after being accused of child abuse, local media reported Wednesday.

Maks Suard, a 48-year-old priest, reportedly hanged himself after being accused of carrying out sexual abuse against a 13-year-old girl some 17 years ago.

According to the Messaggero Veneto newspaper, the priest had admitted his guilt and asked the Bishop of Trieste Giampaolo Crepaldi for two days to prepare a letter asking for forgiveness from God, the Church and the victim.