Bell-ringing priest sentenced

CALTANISSETTA, Sicily - A 70 year old priest has been given a nine month suspended prison sentence after his overexuberant bell…

CALTANISSETTA, Sicily - A 70 year old priest has been given a nine month suspended prison sentence after his overexuberant bell ringing was blamed for ruining a neighbouring couple's sex life, a judicial source said yesterday.

Mr Gaetano Gerracca and his wife had appealed to Father Nunzio Saita for four years to ring the bells of the parish church, at Niscemi in Sicily, only on religious festivals. The village mayor and legal officials also called for a halt to the excessive ringing.

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