The pilgrims of Our Lady Queen of Peace House of Prayer are appalled at the outlandish allegations made regarding fundraising. It is most offensive and shocking to read week after week how the “touched” “simple minded” people who attend Our Lady’s house are brainwashed in to giving hundreds of thousands of euro. This is simply not true.
The supporters of Our Lady Queen of Peace House of Prayer have held meetings in Ireland over the past number of years. This statement is to confirm the activities of those meetings and to clarify some specific points that have been falsely stated in various tabloid media, and also to clarify the attendance at those meetings.
All meetings were organised by Majella Meade, in her role of Fraternity Volunteer Coordinator. Never has Fr. McGinnity, Christina Gallagher or any other leading figure at Our Lady Queen of Peace House of Prayer organised such a meeting.

Serious allegations were made during 2008 regarding some of our meetings, allegations that have absolutely no basis whatsoever.

• Fr McGinnity did attend some meetings at the invitation of Majella Meade, to lead prayer and reflection.
• Meetings have taken place for all sorts of purposes, including forming working fraternity groups in the areas of first aid, stewarding, information office and prayer groups etc.
• As Our Lady’s House has developed over the years, there have been occasions when we have worked on projects, as other organisations do, which required funding to put them in place, and some of our meetings were for that purpose.
• Never have people been intimidated with scaremongering tactics. People were offered the opportunity to donate, but to do so of their own free will and always encouraged to ensure that for them, it was the right thing to do.
• Never was it said that if people did not respond they would receive eternal damnation or anything of the kind, in fact it was always stated at our meetings, that God knows the heart and the sacrifice of each individual.
• Never has any person been put under psychological pressure in any form to donate money.
• As pilgrims, we verify that Fr McGinnity has never targeted any person. After the meetings we had for specific projects, it was always the lay members of the Fraternity who worked directly with pilgrims explaining and putting the projects in place.
• Our meetings are always an occasion of great joy and celebration of Our Lady’s Rosary. People have never left any meeting frightened or in fear, this is totally absurd and insulting, but then again, truth or fact seems to have had no part in this vendetta thus far.

We are very proud of the projects we have completed and wish to state how offensive it is to see our work disrespected in the gutter press. As adults, if we decide to give a gift for the enhancement of Our Lady’s work, is that not our own business, between the individual and Our Blessed Mother? Surely, if one gives a donation to another charity, be it to buy animals in a third world country or support a local or national charity, they are entitled to do so, without tabloid styled papers accusing the organisers that the sheep you donated didn’t get there?

Over recent years, we have completed many projects involved in the expansion of buildings and facilities at Our Lady Queen of Peace, House of Prayer, Achill. We are proud of the works completed and with all other visiting pilgrims from countries around the world. We enjoy the Fruits of these works improving the facilities and creating the beautiful environment appropriate to this work.
We will not be deflected from any aspect of our responsibility of Our Lady’s work, by nature of any misguided callous and defamatory media comment or articles.