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	Trial of Delray Beach Priests on Theft Charges Could Begin Today By Brian Haas South Florida Sun-Sentinel January 21, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/delraybeach/sfl-flppriests0121pnjan21,0,4130217.story A trial three years in the making could begin today in the case of two former Delray Beach priests accused of raiding church collection plates to finance girlfriends, gambling and a lavish lifestyle. The Rev. John Skehan, 81, and the Rev. Francis Guinan, 66, were charged in 2006 with stealing more than $800,000 from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach over a six-year period. Skehan, who was pastor at the church for more than 40 years, is accused of paying for homes in Florida and Ireland and for vacations abroad, and of giving money to his girlfriend — all with collection money. Guinan, who succeeded Skehan as head of the church in 2003, faces similar accusations that he skimmed church funds to give money to a girlfriend and to support his gambling habit. Both men are charged with a single count of grand theft of more than $100,000 and have pleaded not guilty. Neither the prosecutor nor defense attorneys could be reached for comment Tuesday. The case is set for a possible plea conference and hearing of motions today in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, according to the court docket. The trial is set to begin afterward, unless a plea agreement is made. One such agreement reached with prosecutors earlier this year fell apart when a judge rejected it. The agreement would have spared Skehan prison time and allowed him to return to his home in Ireland. The case of the two Irish-born priests has drawn international attention amid other scandals in the Catholic Church. Originally, an audit by the Diocese of Palm Beach showed the pair took more than $8 million worth of church funds over 20 years, but prosecutors had legal time limits on what they could file charges for. Police records at the time portray Skehan as unrepentant, admitting he took the money because he felt he was underpaid. Guinan quit as head of the church in 2005, shortly after an audit of the church's accounting was ordered. Brian Haas can be reached at bhaas@SunSentinel.com or 561-243-6633.
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