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| Fr Conleth Byrne gets suspended sentence for £145,000 fraud | Fr Conleth Byrne gets suspended sentence for £145,000 fraud |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Catholic priest who admitted giving £145,000 of church money to a woman 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, took the money from church funds in the parish of Loughinisland, County Down. | 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 between 2008 and 2009. | |
| The priest, who is now retired, 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. | 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 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 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". | The court heard it appeared Fr Byrne acted "out of charity" and a "high degree of naivety". |