A priest has described controversial House of Prayer leader Christina Gallagher as a “charlatan” and said the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Ireland should take a stand against her operation.
The Sunday World revealed in recent weeks how Gallagher — who founded the House of Prayer on Achill, Co. Mayo, which has received millions in donations from followers over the years — loved playing slot machines in casinos.
We confronted her at Dr Quirkey’s in Phibsborough in Dublin while she was playing the slots, with other customers claiming they had seen her with wads of €50 notes in her hands which she pumped in the machines.
They claimed she had been a regular visitor for over a year and had won large amounts on occasions.
Gallagher told the Sunday World that she didn’t visit casinos often and denied she was using money donated to the House of Prayer for gambling before she left the casino in a BMW 7 Series with her confidant and former House of Prayer secretary Noel Guinan.
Cavan-based priest Fr Oliver O’Reilly, who counselled parishioners whose elderly relatives had donated large sums to the House of Prayer, said the Catholic Church made a number of mistakes in dealing with Gallagher over the years but should speak out against her.
“I think she is a total charlatan and total fake,” Fr O’Reilly, told the Sunday World.
“I guarantee to you 90 per cent plus of all priests and bishops in Ireland would say the same thing.”
He said any claims that a lot of clergy support Christina Gallagher were untrue.
“That’s complete hogwash. She makes up her own truth. It’s totally bizarre.”
Gallagher, who claims to speak directly with Jesus and the Virgin Mary, has a devoted following and people have donated millions to the House of Prayer over the years.
Some have sought their money back after learning of her lavish lifestyle including living in various mansions with facilities including swimming pools, bars and jacuzzis.
Fr O’Reilly said he had dealt with parishioners over the years whose family members donated large sums to Gallagher. One involved an elderly lady with dementia who had donated a lot before her death.
“When she started going into dementia she started going to house of prayer with friends. She was a very wealthy woman but had imparted quite a bit of money and I suggested to the family I would go to the guards and they said ‘please don’t’.
“I asked if they’d go to the guards themselves but they said they wouldn’t. They were good business people and said ‘what’s gone is gone’.
“I have to say, I was shocked how this vulnerable woman in old age was taken advantage of and it made me angry.”
He said it was “shocking” that the House of Prayer sells a picture of Mary for €250 saying it offers protection.
“That does immense damage. There are a lot of good people who are able to differentiate but there are an awful lot of vulnerable people who wouldn’t be able to differentiate between scams and what is authentic.”