THE woman who is alleged to have fraudulently misappropriated €130,000 from a retired priest has returned to work.
However,
Mary McLoughlin who lives at Corragaun, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo,
won't comment on the civil case which is currently before the High
Court.
Relatives of Fr Vincent Kelly took legal action against the
community welfare officer, claiming the priest suffered financial loss
due to her "deception, fraud, deceit and theft".
When approached
by the Irish Independent yesterday, Ms McLoughlin refused to comment.
She hung up when attempts were made to contact her by telephone.
Fr
Kelly -- a former parish priest in Palmerstown, Co Dublin -- retired to
his native Westport 11 years ago. The legal action has been brought by
his sister Ann Geary, of Pontoon, Foxford, Co Mayo, who has power of
attorney over his affairs.
In an affidavit, Mrs Geary took the
case after Fr Kelly told her late last year that a friend was going to
move into his home as housekeeper and secretary.
Mrs Geary was later told that person was Mary McLoughlin.
Ms
McLoughlin had been given joint control over Fr Kelly's bank accounts
at AIB, the court heard. It is claimed that examination of another
account of his at Ulster Bank uncovered that €123,000 was removed by Ms
McLoughlin leaving the account balance at "nil".
In addition, money from the Ulster Bank account was allegedly transferred to Ms McLoughlin's nephew Thomas and niece Tara.
Friends and relatives arrived to Ms McLoughlin's rural home yesterday morning as news emerged of the legal action.
She
works as a community welfare officer at 'The Clinic' in Westport, and
left her home and arrived to work at her offices shortly after 9.30am.
She remained there until shortly before noon when she left the office buildings.
A
spokesman for the Kelly family said they would not be issuing any
comment while the legal action continues and asked that Fr Kelly's
privacy be respected.
Earlier this week, Mr Justice Roderick
Murphy made a number of orders including one prohibiting Ms McLoughlin
from reducing her assets below €51,713.06.
Freezing orders were
also obtained against Ms McLoughlin's nephew Thomas McLoughlin, who
cannot dissipate his assets below €39,000; and her niece Tara
McLoughlin, who cannot reduce her assets below €25,000.
The case
continues.