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Fr Conleth Byrne gets suspended sentence for £150,000 fraud Fr Conleth Byrne gets suspended sentence for £145,000 fraud
(36 minutes later)
A retired Catholic priest who admitted defrauding his former County Down parish of nearly £150,000 has been given a two-year suspended sentence. A Catholic priest who admitted giving £145,000 of church money to a woman has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
Fr Conleth Byrne, 78, paid money to a woman from the funds of his former parish of Loughinisland. Fr Conleth Byrne, 78, took the money from church funds in the parish of Loughinisland, County Down.
The money was taken over a 19-month period up to October 2009.The money was taken over a 19-month period up to October 2009.
The retired priest pleaded guilty last month to fraud by abuse of position just before his trial was due to begin. The priest, who is now retired, pleaded guilty last month to fraud by abuse of position just before his trial was due to begin.
About £45,000 has been repaid and a judge has ordered Fr Byrne to repay the outstanding £100,000.
The judge said it had been agreed that there were no favours to Fr Byrne himself, "ruling out either monetary or sexual benefits".
The court was previously told that Fr Byrne began giving money after the woman called to his parochial home claiming to be in "dire need" of financial help.
The court heard it appeared Fr Byrne acted "out of charity" and a "high degree of naivety".