What is going on in Ireland? Scientology was practically finished off there, and maybe because some of us pointed that out David Miscavige suddenly started a new set of initiatives there that seem completely superfluous. We thought we’d ask our man on Ireland’s west coast, Pete Griffiths, for his thoughts on what’s been happening lately on the Emerald Isle.
It appears that David Miscavige has plans for Ireland.
First we were surprised last year when the National Affairs Office of Ireland was opened in Merrion Square around the corner from the Parliament buildings and just two doors down from Oscar Wilde’s former home. This is operated by the Office of Special Affairs and they have a specific role to perform within Scientology — “safepointing” is the term used to describe making an area “safe to expand into” and this involves all the front groups that we know so well. From Narconon and Criminon, through CCHR, The Truth About Drugs, The Way To Happiness, Youth for Human Rights and the Volunteer Ministers, they work tirelessly to get people to think or believe that Scientology are the good guys in society, bringing benefits to all, rather than a racket fleecing individuals and destroying families and bringing nothing but misery.
In addition to the visible work done by OSA, here we also have their dirty tricks department. This nefarious outfit needs no introduction to regular readers of this blog. Spying on critics, compiling files and dossiers on public servants and representatives, gathering information that can be used to “shudder” critics into silence. All the usual L. Ron Hubbard policy letters brought to life by a zealous group of deluded adherents convinced that clearing the planet will bring salvation to all. Bad news guys, you are mocking up your reactive minds!
And then just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier. Scientologists in Ireland want to go Ideal! They’ve bought up a “prosperity gospel” property that had been seized by the Bank of Scotland at a third the original value — six million euros, down from 18 million.
What do they plan to do with such a property? It comes complete with 1,300-seat hall and was used as a community centre in Firhouse, Dublin 24 until the closure, seizure, and now purchase. The community needs a school but that’s not going to happen now. It’s yet another “ideal” property to add to Miscavige’s ever-increasing portfolio.
The facility is in a bad location regards foot traffic (remember that old LRH policy that demanded that orgs be located in high body traffic areas?) but they no longer appear to care about that. They can show the dwindling membership that they really are expanding despite what those SPs keep on saying.
There are no native Irish working in the National Affairs Office, but that’s OK, because if they do get any and they also want to read everything in the Irish language, then they can, because of the translation unit based in Denmark that has been working on translating all of L. Ron Hubbard’s works into Irish! The only problem here is that everyone who speaks Irish these days also speaks and reads in English and the market for these translations is zero. I know of at least one translator who is still waiting to get paid for their work. There have been a lot of foreign Scientologists entering Ireland over recent months. So much so that it has caught the attention of immigration. You see Irish people are not interested in Scientology, as evidenced by their failure to gain more than a toehold here over the past 25 years, so we’ll just ship in some staff to “safepoint” and create an Ideal Org for Dublin, to hell with the cost! If we build it, they will come? Oh no they won’t!
— Pete Griffiths
And Pete sent us some show-and-tell to go along with his dispatch…
The call has gone out — Dublin is going Ideal!
Do you think this fellow knows what he’s getting into?
You can’t go Ideal without playful fundraisers…
But not everyone is thrilled with Scientology’s push. Local Area Rep for the Social Democrats in Firhouse, Carly Bailey, says she’s going to call a hearing about it…
Thanks, Pete. We’re not sure where Dublin media is getting the idea that this will become a “European hub” for Scientology. We haven’t seen any sign that Scientology will be giving things up at Saint Hill Manor (the UK headquarters), or at Copenhagen, where the European Advanced Org is. Even an Ideal Org with a large hall isn’t going to make Ireland, with almost no actual Scientologists, a “hub” for anything.
But Miscavige has surprised us before, so we’ll keep our eyes open.
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,815 days.
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Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 1,918 days.
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Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 690 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,779 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 1,919 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,239 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,214 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 570 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin in 4,872 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 979 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis for 1,381 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,254 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 835 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike in 1,340 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,584 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,693 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 18, 2017 at 07:00
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
