Naples – The North Naples Court has validated the arrest of Vittorio De Luca, 75, who was stopped by Carabinieri from the Caivano Company on charges of delivering a bullet to Don Maurizio Patriciello, a parish priest who is a symbol of the fight against the Camorra and social degradation in Parco Verde.
The precautionary prison measure was confirmed at the end of the validation hearing held this morning.
The act, which immediately raised alarm and concern, occurred a few days ago when the man, appearing before the priest, handed him a spent gun shell. Patriciello, who had been under protection for years and was constantly threatened for his civic commitment, immediately reported the incident.
The Carabinieri, coordinated by the North Naples Prosecutor's Office, reconstructed the incident and arrested the 75-year-old. The man is the father-in-law of the Parco Verde boss. Antonio Ciccarelli, founder of the clan that has been managing illicit trafficking in that area for years and who is in prison.
This is not the first time that the name of the parish priest of Caivano has been at the center of intimidation.
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In Parco Verde—a neighborhood symbolic of degradation and drug dealing—Don Maurizio often raised his voice against gangs and organized crime, but also against the institutions when they abandoned families.
The delivery of that bullet, which occurred in an already fragile and tense context, was interpreted by investigators as a disturbing signal, an intimidating message using language reminiscent of the typical language of organized crime.
De Luca's arrest and subsequent validation therefore represent an important judicial step, even if the motives for the act remain unclear: whether it was an isolated act, the result of personal initiative, or whether there may have been a broader agenda behind it, perhaps linked to criminal circles that have repeatedly attempted to silence the parish priest's inconvenient voice.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked strong reactions in the ecclesiastical world and civil society. Numerous institutional figures have expressed solidarity with the priest, who has been waging his battle for years in a difficult area, becoming a point of reference for the community and a symbol of resistance to the Camorra.
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Comments (3)
Reports of intimidation against people like Don Maurizio are disturbing. It's important that civil society not remain silent and support those fighting against illegality, otherwise nothing will change.
It's sad to see people trying to make a difference being targeted. Don Maurizio deserves support and protection, not threats. I hope the authorities take this situation seriously.
De Luca's arrest raises questions about how criminals continue to threaten those who fight for the good of the community. The delivery of the bullet to Don Maurizio is a signal that cannot be underestimated; the situation is extremely serious.