UK court deals blow to Vatican in property deal court action

A nun stands in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

A UK judge has blasted Vatican prosecutors for making “appalling” misrepresentations to the court about their investigation into the Holy See’s investment in a London property deal, and determined they do not have much of a case against their key suspect.

In the remarkable ruling made public this week, Judge Tony Baumgartner of Southwark Crown Court reversed another judge’s decision to seize the British-based bank accounts of broker Gianluigi Torzi and awarded Mr Torzi legal fees.