A VILLAGE IN FEAR OF SCIENTOLOGY

Narconon, a drug rehabilitation centre run by a controversial church, has been given the go-ahead to open in Ballivor, where locals are worried what it might mean for them

Speak­ing out: Loc­als Alan Bris­lin and Claire O’Mara out­side the new Nar­conon facil­ity

Scientologists get go-ahead for drug treatment centre

Narconon Trust, a branch of the ‘Church of Selentology, last week got the go-ahead to pen drug rehab centre in the small Meath village of Ballivor The Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the High Court that An Bord Pleandla was incorrect in decding the centre requires planning permission.

lrish operation owes €1m after Covid hit turnover

MAEVE SHEEHAN

The Church of Scientology’s main Irish operation continues to repay loans of more than €1m to affiliate organizations overseas.

Meath Scientology drug rehab centre set to open early next year following court ruling

The controversial facility has had its planning permission upheld by the Court of Appeal, overturning An Bord Pleanála’s 2018 decision

Narconon Trust bought the building, which had existing planning permission for a nursing home in 2016, after it had confirmed with Meath County Council’s planners that it did not require “change of use” planning to develop a drug addiction treatment centre there instead

SCIENTOLOGY DRUG REHAB CENTRE IN MEATH GETS APPROVAL COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS HIGH COURT DECISION ON AN BORDE PLEANÁLA ’S REFUSAL TO GRANT PERMISSION

The former old Ballivor National School, which was acquired by Narcanon to turn into a drug rehabilitation facility. Photograph: Seamus Farrelly

IRISH TIMES

LOCAL RESIDENTS MUST NOW CHANGE TACK. THE DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY IS PRETTY MUCH ZERO.
THE PEOPLE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THE NARCONON FACILITY . IF OTHER CENTRES ARE ANYTHING TO GO ON THEN WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO HELP. OPERATION BREAKOUT.

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

The Court of APPEAL has upheld a decision which means a €9 million residential drug rehabilitation centre linked to the Church of Scientology can go ahead.

‘We’re deeply disappointed but we will fight’ – locals react as Scientology-linked drug treatment centre gets court approval

Councillor Noel French and local resident Claire O’Mara are against the plans to build a drug rehab centre in Ballivor, Co Meath. Photo: Tony Gavin

November 19, 2021

By Conor Feehan

Tomas West psychotherapist poses this question to political representatives and health officials.

“The correct way to tackle this is on health and safety. Request to have qualified psychological oversight. Ask the government, in light of their proposals to regulate psychotherapy why they would allow an unregulated and oppositional medical ideology to be practised in the country.”