A priest claims he is unaware of "any financial gains" for his church after a court heard that a town council clerk donated more than £150,000 of stolen public money. Margaret Buckley was jailed on Wednesday for two years and four months after admitting she defrauded Maesteg Town Council.
Buckley, 76, conned councillors who signed blank cheques which she then used to commit fraud totalling £238,205.54 – split across £17,279 to Our Lady & St Patrick church, £134,894.86 to the church's flower group, £82,181.68 to her own account, and £3,850 to her daughter, Cardiff Crown Court heard. An insurance company has reimbursed the council but the firm is expected to make a financial claim against Buckley. You can read the full court report here.
Buckley told police she donated stolen funds so the Catholic church in Monica Street, Maesteg, could pay for repairs. Following her sentencing WalesOnline asked the church where it believed the money had been sourced from, whether it raised any concern over the huge sums being donated, what the money was used for, and whether it had returned any of the funds.
