MONEY-MAD House of Prayer boss Christina Gallagher has sold her fabulous £2million British mansion.
The self-proclaimed visionary had to reduce the asking price by £300,000 before a buyer was found for the seven-bedroom and seven bathroom manor home near the Welsh border.
The Mayo mystic still made a profit on the luxury estate – boasting its own lake, indoor swimming pool and lift – which she bought for £1.8m in October 2009.
The so-called holy woman, who has bought a string of luxury properties for herself and her family, confirmed to supporters that it had finally been sold even though estate agent Knight Frank’s website says only that it is “under offer”.
Gallagher announced to her congregation: “Next time I buy a house I will let you know in advance so you won’t read it in the newspaper.”
The leader of the controversial House of Prayer on Achill Island, who claims to have visits from the Virgin Mary and Jesus, was referring to the Sunday World exposé in March which revealed her purchase of the palatial pad.
Gullible
One former devotee said last night: “Why would she want to buy another home when she has already bought half a dozen? How many does she need? But the big question now is what is she going to do with all this money. It came from her supporters but I bet she has no plans to give it back to them.”
The cult leader confessed earlier this year that she got her devotees to pay for the 11,500 sq ft mansion in Shropshire, which is registered to her son Brendan.
In an astonishing admission on her website, Gallagher revealed followers had to sign contracts saying they knew their donations were for her “personal use”.
The money was described as an “absolute” gift which could never be reclaimed “at any time, under any circumstances”.
The new tactic came after Gallagher was forced to return money when the Sunday World exposed how she splashed cash on luxury homes.
Naive donors might now ask themselves why she is selling the house after she claimed Jesus had guided her to it.
“Did Jesus get it wrong?” asked one disgusted former follower last night.
And now the 58-year-old grandmother has come up with another money-making plan by demanding supporters get an ID card from the House of Prayer.
Permits
She claims the time of the “illumination” is coming and millions of people will want to get to the House of Prayer and the demand will be so great the crowds will not be able to cross the bridge on to Achill Island.
She is issuing photo permits which will give followers priority into the House.
They have been told to bring photographs to Saturday prayers but have been given no indication as to the cost of the new permits.