A former Irish Catholic priest appeared in court this week over a probe into sham marriages in Northern Ireland.
Cleric Pat Buckley appeared in court on Tuesday, alongside 15 others in relation to the investigation into bogus marriages, money laundering and fraud.
Buckley is accused of conducting wedding ceremonies that enabled foreign nationals to stay in the UK. The 49-year-old was suspended as a Catholic priest in 1986 and excommunicated in 1998 following his unlawful ordination as a bishop, the BBC reports.
Speaking out against the claims, he said the decision to prosecute him was "an attempt by the establishment to silence a priest who has been the champion of the marginalised for 36 years".
The former priest has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Home Secretary by facilitating foreign nationals to gain entry to the UK on dates between January 2004 and September 2009, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
-------------------
Read more:
More news from Ireland on IrishCentral
Irish homeowners now have legal right to shoot intruders
Irish husband and wife tell of harrowing ordeal as Italian cruiser sinks
-------------------
Following his brief court appearance on Tuesday he told the Belfast Telegraph the prosecution against him was "reprehensible and dubious".
"The decision by the PSNI and PPS to prosecute me is groundless and highly suspect and represents an attempt by the establishment to silence a priest who has been the champion of the marginalized for 36 years," he said.
He said he is committed to defending the case and that "those responsible for the dubious prosecution will be held to account by all legal means".
Concern has been growing recently over the increase in suspected bogus marriages across Northern Ireland. Last month the UK Border Agency revealed that officials had broke up some 35 suspected sham marriages over the course of six months.
The case was adjourned until February 7.
4 Comments
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Collette2 | Jan 16, 2012, 11:30 PM EST
Innocent or not, like the rest of them, he looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. With the crucifix behind him, it's, Stand up, Stand up for Jesus, all the way.
rachelau | Jan 16, 2012, 08:36 PM EST
Iwould like to say something about this Paci who claims he is being discremated agaist, could not get a girl to drole over him ,thinks because he is a doctor, WHAT IS A PACI doing in a night club with all those beautiful Irish Girls. He has a wife and two daughters back in his own country. I say to him, I would love to get you a one way ticket I just got my social secuirty check. leave my country and take a dozen more with you, go to Germany France bet you would not be let into those country. go home mister go back.
Curitiba | Jan 16, 2012, 06:34 PM EST
And who said romance was dead, eh?
GeorgeDillon | Jan 16, 2012, 09:59 AM EST
This is a common scam in the 26 Counties also. A typical modality--A Latvian hooker flies in from Riga on a one-day trip. She turns up at the Registry Office in Dublin or wherever, asks --"Which one is the groom?". She's told "He's the third Pakistani on the left". She goes over, shakes his hand, maybe asks him his name, just to add intimacy, collects her fee (about $5000) and says "Let's get started". An hour later, the happily married couple leave the building and split up forever, she to head back to her night job in Latvia, he to stay in Ireland and go on welfare. It takes a very stupid people to tolerate this abuse of their hospitality and laws, but the Irish are those people.