Priest caught out lying after surviving Concordia

An Italian priest who claimed he was going away for a week on a spiritual retreat will have to explain to his parishioners how he ended up on the doomed Costa Concordia cruise ship.

Fr Massimo Donghi had told parishioners he was going away for contemplation and prayer, but actually boarded the luxury liner at Civitavecchia, north of Rome, for a cruise of Mediterranean ports.

Donghi would have been able to enjoy the ship’s spas, saunas, jacuzzis, four swimming pools, five restaurants, 13 bars, casino and a discotheque.