But Father John William Fitzmaurice, 57, was refused bail pending his appeal after the jail term was imposed in the Christchurch District Court on February 27, so he has already served two weeks in prison.

The appeal was heard in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Graham Panckhurst today.

Fitzmaurice, who worked as a priest in the Christchurch diocese for 34 years, had admitted eight charges of dishonestly using documents and obtaining money by deception.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: 3News

Bishop Jones expressed "disappointment" that his once-trusted priest had been jailed, having pleaded to the court for him to receive home detention.

He was also saddened to lose the services of "a very able and gifted" priest.

"His offending has caused great scandal - he had a very high reputation amongst people and people were very shocked to hear this had happened."

"But he's exercised an excellent ministry for over 30 years, and now we don't have that from him anymore."

The church will continue to support him through his "turmoil", and after counselling, he expected Father Fitzmaurice to come out of prison "stronger".

They had paid his living costs, covered his legal fees and counselling costs, and since the convicted fraudster had no assets or any savings were realistic that he couldn't pay any reparation.

But Bishop Jones said: "Some kind of symbolic reparation when he's in a position to do so... we'd expect that."

Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintl said it had cost the church $31,000 in investigation fees to uncover Fitzmaurice's offending. Reparation of $149,000 was sought but the church was realistic in acknowledging Fitzmaurice's inability to pay.

Zintl said the offending involved 735 separate acts of dishonesty. It was highly calculated and premeditated offending.

"The offender was a man of faith, but the very faith that was placed in him by the Catholic church and the community, he has betrayed."

Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton told the judge: "He stands before you for sentencing truly ashamed and deeply remorseful for the harm he has caused."

Eaton said Fitzmaurice was aware of the breach of trust towards the bishop, the church, parishioners, family, and friends.

He said said a report described the offending as "a spiralling vocational and emotional meltdown over several years".

He said Fitzmaurice, who had entered the seminary at 17 and became a priest at 23, could still work for the church he had devoted his life to.

While he could never work in Christchurch again, Eaton said an "olive branch" had been extended by the Bishop of Auckland.

Eaton also indicated they would be challenging the sentence and applying for Father Fitzmaurice's release on bail pending the hearing of an appeal.

Source

• NewsTalkZB
• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: 3News

He committed the fraud while he was the parish priest at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and at Addington's Sacred Heart Parish.

The charges relate to his using 242 cheques drawn on the Catholic Cathedral Parish and Addington Parish accounts, which were either cashed or paid into his account.

He also admitted dishonestly making 358 automatic teller withdrawals totalling $54,430.

Fitzmaurice was suspended by Bishop Barry Jones in September 2011.

What he did with all the money remains unclear, but on Monday the Bishop of Christchurch Barry Jones told The Press : "I understand there was gambling involved."

Judge Jane Farish remanded Fitzmaurice on bail for sentencing on February 27.

She called for a pre-sentence report and a report on his suitability for home detention, and his ability to pay reparations to the church.

Source

• The Press
• The Press
• Image: AnglicansAblaze

Father John Fitzmaurice was stood down from his duties as parish priest at the Sacred Heart Church in Addington, last month after Bishop of Christchurch Barry Jones became concerned about his handling of some of the church's financial affairs.

The parish priest of Sacred Heart, Addington, Father John Fitzmaurice, who also ministers to the Carmelite Monastery and the Hoon Hay parish, has been stood down

In a letter from Bishop Barry Jones read out at masses on Sunday he said it was his "painful duty" to confirm Fitzmaurice is suspended from "all priestly ministry".

Bishop Jones says the financial irregularities are in areas Father John was responsible for.

Lyndsay Freer who is the communications spokesperson from the Auckland diocese and says it is more bad news after the earthquakes.

Read Bishop Jones' Letter

Source

• TV3
• Image A J Park