EXCLUSIVE
SUBURBAN WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- In blue prison garb, wearing handcuffs and leg irons Rev. Francis Guinan told WPTV NewsChannel 5 he was being treated well in the County Jail. He wanted parishioners to know he did not steal hundreds of thousands of dollars as the prosecution contended.
"Numbers have been thrown around about exotic trips; Las Vegas is a big thing. The total money spent on Las Vegas was ten thousands dollars. The same on the Bahamas and Ireland where I went for my sister's funeral," says Guinan.
He acknowledged he had personal struggles during his nineteen months as pastor.
"I realize I was drinking, but I did not abuse or gamble with the parish money,” said former the priest.
What about the allegations he had a girlfriend with whom he traveled extensively with?
What about the allegations he had a girlfriend and was on a globetrotting romp during his 19 months as pastor?
"I had a heart attack in 2002. The idea of wild sex life was not in the cards," he firmly said.
When I asked him how he was holding up, he lost his composure and choked back tears.
Guinan says charges that the eight million dollars was stolen by he and Father Skehan are completely false.
Guinan said the money can, in fact, be accounted for in bank accounts assigned to the parish and its school.
I ask him how he will hold up in prison, again Guinan showed heavy emotions.
"There are good human-beings being very supportive. I will work to tell my side of the story. All of this is now water over the dam," Guinan ended.
