Fiona MagennisA former pastor who embezzled more than €125,000 from his own church in Co Kildare has had his six-and-a-half-year prison sentence reduced by one year on appeal. Oduntan was convicted of 87 theft and fraud-related offences following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in March, 2024. The church, which has charitable status, is a branch of a Nigerian-based Pentecostal church. The sentencing court heard that Oduntan withdrew church funds for personal use, including cheques of up to €20,000 made payable to himself. None of the stolen funds has been recovered, and Oduntan has not been a member of the church since 2020.

Source: The Herald February 20, 2026 18:17 UTC