Inital Fraud Case of St. Patrick's Church in Fallowfield, Ottawa

October 2014

As reported by CTV News, 3 men now face allegations of defrauding the St. Patrick's Fallowfield Cemetery Committee.

The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the City of Ottawa has put forward a lawsuit that alleges defraud was committed by three men: Ottawa lawyer Ronald Houlahan, Michael Rooney and Glenn Clarke. All three were former members of the cemetery committee.

$736,000 is the amount asked in damages by the Corporation. 

It is alleged that the men diverted $413,970 from the committee through deceitful transactions. From 2003 to 2011 money from sale of plots had gone missing, honorariums handed out and unsupported cheques were made. All three men signed their names to these various documents. After review of finances during 2010 the anomalies were found.

The church now faces countersuits launched by the three men seeking damages for defamation and claiming that their authorization of the honorariums were legitimate.