After these accusations were disseminated, the community had had "enough" of the Donnellys and decided to take the law into their own hands once they heard that there was no supporting evidence linking the Donnellys to the burning of the barn. This news reached the congregation of St. Patrick's Church and the priest addressed that an "evil had fallen among the community" and that there would be a reward of five hundred dollars for the "detection of the wicked persons" and he vowed that the "guilty party" would be punished for their sins.