august 22, 2010 at it again - wordpress.com · august 22, 2010 11 at it again she also launched...

August 22, 2010 11

AT IT AGAINAT IT AGAINAT IT AGAINAT IT AGAINAT IT AGAIN

She also launched other dubiousappeals such as the ‘Blue Ivory Trust’which was intended to buy her own luxu-ry home from her as a shrine to herself.She kept the money and the house.

She also tricked millions of euro out ofpensioners around Ireland, claiming themoney was desperately needed for a“secret mission to save millions of souls”.

Some of those who handed over their lifesavings later admitted they had been brain-washed into giving Gallagher everythingthey had.

Gallagher tells her supporters thatonly those who attend her Houses ofPrayer or support them financially willget salvation.

At the same time as she was raising allthis cash, Gallagher was snapping up fab-ulous properties for herself and her fami-ly even though she did not work and hadno formal income.

We revealed how the fake visionary had

lived secretly for years in a magnificent€4m mansion in a private estate in poshMalahide, Co Dublin, next to pop starsand millionaire businessmen.

The astonishing home was officially reg-istered in the name of Gallagher’sAmerican fundraiser John Rooney.

FraudWe later sensationally revealed that

Rooney was a convicted conman whospent time in jail in Texas after admittingtaking part in an inter-state fraud whichcost his bank employers a whopping$10m.

Despite Gallagher’s claims that she hadno interest in material things and wouldhappily live in a tent, she also had a fabu-lous home in Newport, Co. Mayo, com-plete with antiques, jewellery and a fourposter bed specially imported fromHarrods.

She bought a stunning €1m three-storey

mansion near Ballina for daughter Maryand also gave another house to sonBrendan.

She also retained half the marital homeshe owned with estranged husband Paddy.

Gallagher’s astonishing millionairelifestyle was highlighted in the bookImmaculate Deception by this reporter,published last year.

It revealed how the Co. Mayo woman hadbegun life in extreme poverty but hadchanged her lifestyle beyond recognitionsince opening her House of Prayer in 1993.

It told how one former House of Prayermanager quit after just five weeksbecause he was not allowed to open themail, which was often filled with cash.Gallagher insisted opening letters washer “only joy”.

Immaculate Deception also revealedhow Gallagher installed a bank of secretcameras and audio equipment in theHouse of Prayer to spy on her staff. And it

revealed how a group of formerly loyalfollowers quit when she refused to answerquestions about her luxury lifestyle,which included a top of the range 7-seriesBMW.

RevelationsNumbers attending the House of Prayer

have dropped drastically since the revela-tions.

Although Gallagher has always claimedshe is a Catholic visionary, the Church hasstressed that she has no official recogni-tion “whatsoever”.

They have banned Gallagher and herspiritual director Fr Gerard McGinnityfrom holding Masses or givingSacraments at the House of Prayer.

The local archdiocese has also warnedforeign Catholics not to go on pilgrimagesthere.

jim.gallagher@sundayworld.comPROBE: Our Jim and book

LIFESTYLE:Despite claiming

she has nointerest in

material goods,Christina

Gallagher has ahefty property

portfolio

FLOCK: Followerslisten at Gallagher’s

House of Prayer in Co.Mayo

ON THE CASE: How Sunday World exposedGallagher’s lucrative ‘religious’ racket