New book investigates House of Prayer

New book investigates House of Prayer


Anton McNulty

A BOOK investigating the controversial House of Prayer on Achill Island and its founder Christina Gallagher has been published with claims that life-savings were taken from former followers.
The book entitled ‘Immaculate Deception - The shocking true story of Christina Gallagher and her House of Prayer’ has been written by Sunday World journalist, Jim Gallagher. The House of Prayer was founded in Achill by Ballina native Christina Gallagher in 1993 after she claimed to have the stigmata of Christ and receive regular messages direct from the Virgin Mary.
Jim Gallagher, a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience has been reporting on the House of Prayer for nearly two years and has gained access to past members and victims. He investigates her ‘lavish’ lifestyle which he claims includes a €4 million mansion in Malahide and the role played by Louth priest, Fr Gerard McGinnity.
The author speaks to former followers such as Betty and Michael Morrissey from Waterford who say they handed over nearly €150,000 over ten years to the House of Prayer. He also spoke to Bernadette Rees who claimed her late father 89-year-old Tim McCarry from Donegal gave his life savings of €70,000 to the House of Prayer.
“I feel as if he was robbed, They preyed on the fact that he was old and vulnerable to their suggestions. He was led to believe that money would make him a pathway to heaven and he gave everything he had. I think he was cheated,” said Ms Rees.
Immaculate Deception is published by Merlin Publishing and is priced at €12.99.