US woman jailed for murdering Irish priest

A woman who beat an Irish priest to death has been jailed for 40 years in Florida.

Delta Sue Allen, 34, was given the maximum term by a Pensacola judge following a plea bargain reached last November.

She had faced murder, robbery and battery charges for her role in the death of the Fr Oliver Barrett, who had served as pastor at St Anne’s Catholic Church in Brownsville for 17 years.

The parish was dissolved after his death in February 2001.

“I’m very sorry about Father Barrett,” Allen said. “I just hope the members of the church can forgive me. I’ve asked God for forgiveness already.”

Allen went to the church looking for money, then beat Barrett with a cement block.

The priest never fully recovered from his injuries and died in his native Ireland 11 months later.