A FORMER Loughinisland Parish Priest has pleaded not guilty to defrauding his diocese out of almost £150,000.
Father Conleth Byrne (78) denied making a number of payments to a woman with funds belonging to the Diocese of Down and Connor. Fr Byrne appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday morning.
Father Byrne, whose address was given as Bethlehem Abbey, Portglenone, was Parish Priest in Loughinisland at the time of the alleged fraud between January 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009.
At the hearing the priest replied ‘not guilty’ loudly and clearly to the charge of dishonestly abusing his position — in which he was expected to safeguard the financial interests of the Diocese of Down and Connor — by making a number of payments to the woman totalling £145,617.
Prosecuting lawyer David McDowell said the case centred on whether or not the alleged actions constituted dishonesty or not and estimated the trial would last between three and four days.
Defence lawyer Sean Doran said there was a “considerable body of financial records” to be examined and said they would be instructing an expert witness to do so.
A trial date was set for January 28 at Downpatrick Crown Court. Father Byrne was released in the interim on continuing bail.