AN Italian priest and two nuns are said to have beaten up a restaurant boss in a property dispute.

The 49-year-old man suffered neck and stomach injuries in the attack which left his restaurant “looking like a Wild West saloon”.

Tables and chairs were overturned and plates smashed after the brawl erupted following a disagreement over ownership of the venue.

The alleged assailants were from a local religious order — the Disciples of St Teresa and Baby Jesus — which leases the restaurant to the man in Rutino, near Salerno, in the south of the country.

Police were called and questioned the nuns, a mother superior and a sister, as well as the priest. The victim was taken to hospital.

No charges have been made over the brawl but the unnamed manager said today: “I was hit with a chair by the priest and then ended up on the floor. The next thing I knew the two nuns were kicking me and hurling unspeakable insults at me.”

Both the nuns and the priest deny the claims. Lawyer Gaetano Di Vietri said: “Let's be realistic here, the three have a combined age of 160 so it's not very likely they are going to attack a 49-year-old. What is more important here is that the premises are being occupied illegally.”

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