A west Limerick priest has been tasked with getting to the bottom of the corruption scandal that has rocked the Argentinian political establishment to its core.
Father Tom O’Donnell, from Templeglantine, is heading up the Catholic Church’s investigation into a case which involves claims that a former Argentinian government minister tried to stash US$9 million (€8.2 million) in a small convent near Buenos Aries.
The alleged incident occurred on June 14 when a man was spotted throwing black plastic sacks into the grounds of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima convent and then climbing over the fence after them.
A witness contacted the police and they found former Minister for Public Works, José López, and three elderly nuns, standing around the bags he had thrown over the fence.
Almost $9 million was found in the bags and a further search found an illegal firearm in Minister Lopez’s car. When questioned by police, López claimed to be a church official and is then alleged to have offered the police officers a bag containing almost $2 million.
Discussing his role in the investigation, Fr O’Donnell said that his focus was on uncovering the nuns’ involvement in a story which has gripped the nation.
“We will have to go through the evidence in a way that is honest and respectful of the laws of the church and the state. We will co-operate with the justice system to try and reach the truth and find out what really happened. Were the nuns being used or were they aware of what was happening?” the 64-year old Limerickman said.
While keen to distance himself from the political element of the story, Fr O’Donnell, who has been working in Argentina since 1978, admitted to being aware that the “government at the time helped the bishop and his congregation to build part of the convent” and that there was “a relationship between the minister, his secretary and the founder of the congregation.”
His main focus however remains on uncovering the involvement of the nuns, one of whom is 94-years old.
“Did they commit a crime, these old nuns? It’s only a new congregation but they still have fundamental law, constitutions and statutes. The investigation is to find out if they comply with these promises of obedience, poverty. Our local archbishop has formed the commission and we’re just starting this coming week,” said Fr O’Donnell.
