Christina Gallagher's controversial House of Prayer in Achill Island continues to make vast profits amid ongoing allegations of fraud and cult-like activity while Church leaders stress that the house has no official Church approval. Figures obtained by The Irish Catholic indicate that so far this year, the alleged visionary has made €339,283 in donations from members of the public.
The same accounts indicate that the House of Prayer pulled in almost €700,000 in less than two years from the sale of religious objects which they purchased for €300,000, giving them a staggering 130 per cent mark up on these objects.
The alleged visionary came under scrutiny by the Gardaí earlier this year after dozens of her former followers complained to the Revenue Commissioners and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) over alleged fraudulent activity.
The Irish Catholic has learned that substantial sums of cash have now been returned to the disgruntled former followers, some of whom have referred to the House of Prayer as a 'cult'.
However, the cash was only returned on the condition that the parties sign a confidentiality agreement preventing them from releasing details of the deal.
The balance sheet shows that combined profits for the House of Prayer stand at almost two million euro. However, profits may take a substantial hit if the Revenue Commissioners go ahead with their plan to tax the profits after the controversial group lost its charitable status.
The House of Prayer is now appealing the decision of the Revenue Commissioners; however, if the decision is not overturned, Ms Gallagher will face a tax liability in the region of €125,000 before interest and penalties.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Seán Brady is continuing discussions with Ms Gallagher's Spiritual Director Fr Gerard McGinnity over his involvement with Achill.
Fr McGinnity, a priest of the Armagh Archdiocese, has staunchly defended his involvement in the controversial movement despite allegations that he played a key role in seeking huge donations from pensioners to build so-called 'chain' houses of prayer that never materialised.
A source close to Cardinal Brady told The Irish Catholic ''the delicate negotiations with Fr McGinnity are ongoing''.
He indicated that the cardinal would not be in a position to comment on the negotiations or their eventual outcome at this point.
Earlier this year, Archbishop Michael Neary, in whose Tuam Archdiocese the house operates, expressed his frustration that attempts to integrate the House of Prayer into the life of the local parish had failed despite his best efforts. The House of Prayer at Achill, he said, has ''no Church approval whatever''.
He also added that the work of the House of Prayer does ''not enjoy the confidence of the Diocesan authorities.''
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(Source: IC)