Sister Anna Donelli, a member of the Sisters of Mercy order, has become a key figure in a high-profile investigation in Italy.
She was known for her active role in the San Vittore prison in Milan, where, since 2010, she provided support to inmates and even acted as a referee for football matches among prisoners.
Sister Anna paid particular attention to members of the Calabrian mafia group ‘Ndrangheta, one of Italy’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. The prosecution suspects her of passing messages between mafiosi both inside and outside the prison, thus aiding their criminal activities, including extortion, arms and drug trafficking, and money laundering.
According to the newspaper Il Messaggero, one of the key pieces of evidence comes from a member of the ‘Ndrangheta, who stated that the nun was considered “one of them.” The individual claimed that if the mafia needed something in prison, they would turn to Sister Anna.
The investigation revealed that she may have assisted the Tripodi clan of the ‘Ndrangheta in strengthening their influence by providing access to illicit financial resources and supporting the group’s criminal reputation.
As part of a large-scale operation against the northern Italian branch of the ‘Ndrangheta, law enforcement authorities arrested 24 people, including the nun. Among those detained were politicians: former Brescia city council member Giovanni Acri and ex-Northern League deputy Mauro Galea, both suspected of mafia connections. Sister Anna has been placed under house arrest, while the investigation is ongoing.
