IRELAND
Irish Independent
TOM BRADY, SECURITY EDITOR – UPDATED 28 FEBRUARY 2014
A PRIEST has been arrested by gardai investigating the theft of more than €500,000 from his religious order.
It follows a six-month investigation by a team of detectives into complaints of theft, which allegedly took place over a 13-year period.
The cash was allegedly taken from the order by making false claims for Mass stipends.
Under canon law, a priest is entitled to receive one stipend from the diocese or the order from collections made during the celebration of Mass.
Additional stipends cannot be claimed if the priest celebrates multiple Masses on one day.
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