Catholic school principal facing trial for alleged theft of $25K

John McGrath of East Norriton worked at Our Lady of Mercy in Upper Dublin at time of incident

UPPER DUBLIN » An East Norriton man who is a former Catholic school principal must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that he embezzled more than $25,000 in school funds.

John C. McGrath, 56, of the unit block of Brownstone Drive, waived his preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Patricia A. Zaffarano on charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, criminal use of a communication facility and unsworn falsification to authorities in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between May 2020 and October 2021 while he was principal at Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School in Maple Glen.

McGrath, who remains free on bail, faces a June 8 formal arraignment hearing on the charges in county court, after which a judge will set a trial date.

Assistant District Attorney Tanner Beck, captain of the district attorney’s Economic and Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case. Defense lawyer Thomas C. Egan III represents McGrath.

An investigation began on Nov. 4, 2021, when representatives of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia reported to Upper Dublin police that they uncovered evidence which may indicate McGrath had been stealing school funds “over a significant period of time,” according to the arrest affidavit filed by Upper Dublin Detective Christian Fiedler.

School officials told detectives that McGrath had access to three school credit cards and that a review of credit card statements “identified

John C. McGrath