Seven years for associate of nuncio Wesolowski

A Polish Catholic priest, convicted of abusing minors in the Dominican Republic and Poland was sentenced to seven years in prison and costs of 155,000 Polish zlotys (£28,000) in compensation to the victims.

The case of Fr Wojciech Gil, 37, is related to that of former Polish Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, former Holy See ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

After being accused of child abuse Archbishop Wesolowski was recalled to Rome and stripped of his duties and status as a priest by the Vatican in June last year.

Wesolowski’s compatriot and associate, Gil, has now been found guilty of abusing six minors in the Caribbean nation between 2009 and 2013 and two in Poland in 2000-01. Gil had pleaded not guilty, but sought a settlement and a seven-year prison term, which avoided a full trial.

That was accepted by prosecutors representing Dominican and Polish victims.