ONE of the Catholic Church's largest dioceses in Scotland has been asked to explain why £215,000 of parishioners' funds were used to buy a villa for use by a senior bishop's housekeeper.

A Labour MSP has asked why the money was used to buy a property for Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Devine's maid, despite his home having private quarters for her.

The Diocese of Motherwell decided to spend £215,000, without a mortgage, on a property in the Lanarkshire town last year. The detached villa was bought for use by Bishop Devine's housekeeper, Pauline Curran.

However, questions are now being asked about such a purchase being made during a recession.

Questions are also being raised by Michael McMahon, the Labour MSP for Hamilton North and Bellshill, over who authorised the deal.

At the time of the purchase, the housekeeper had accommodation at the bishop's home in Hamilton. The rented premises to which he then moved in Bothwell also have quarters for an assistant.

Land records show the owners of the £215,000 villa are Bishop Devine, Monsignor Burns and Monsignor Thomas O'Hare, in their capacity as trustees of the diocese.

But Mgr Burns said: "I don't know anything about it. I had nothing to do with it."

Mgr O'Hare said: "Bishop Devine is the one you should speak to."

When asked about the sale, the bishop's spokesman said that Frank Cassidy, the diocese chancellor, was the man who had the facts: "I think you would be better talking to the chancellor about that. He is the one who will have all the details. Others will only know bits and pieces."

Mr Cassidy said the idea for the purchase came from the bishop. Asked what his role in the purchase was, he said: "I arranged the legalities and got the conveyancing done for the property. It's all above board."

Bishop Devine was caught up in a row last year over the Church's property dealings, after his former home in Hamilton was flattened to make way for a new, three-bedroomed property. However, the plan was ditched following complaints.