Gaetano Alibrandi - Nuncio To Ireland

Nuncio To Ireland

He was appointed nuncio to Ireland in 1969. Dr Alibrandi was a noted Provisional IRA sympathiser during his tenure in Ireland. He had “a very testy relationship with three Taoisigh – Jack Lynch, Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald” Mr Donlon recalled. It was reported in September 2012 during the second Dr Garret FitzGerald Memorial Lecture at University College Cork by Seán Donlon, former secretary general at the Department of Foreign Affairs, that “It came to our attention that a substantial amount in three bank accounts in Dublin were way in excess of what was needed to run the nunciature. The source appeared to be South America.” Donlon went on to say “Because of its size, we thought it appropriate to ask if the funds belonged to the Holy See.” When contacted for an answer, Dr Alibrandi “quickly answered ‘no’ and that they belonged to ‘family’. When it was pointed out to him that the money was then liable under Irish taxation law to DIRT, he said he would retire shortly and the accounts would be closed”.