Readers of this website know how much we benefit from our vast network of tipsters and correspondents because, well, we constantly tell you so. And you have also many times heard us talk about one of our very best and reliable sources, our man in Ireland and a former member of the Church of Scientology, Pete Griffiths.
Year in and year out, Pete has contributed to the knowledge base here, tipping us off to what’s happening in Ireland and the UK in particular, and also keeping us up to date on his own legal issues with the church.
And it’s fallout from that legal battle that we want to talk to you about today.
If you remember, in 2013 Pete was slandered by a Scientologist named Zabrina Collins (now Zabrina Shortt), who sent out an email to a local high school accusing him of slimy untrue things because Pete had given a talk about Scientology at the school. Pete consulted a lawyer who said he had a good defamation case, and so Pete filed suit. In the meantime, however, Pete was involved with another former Scientologist, John McGhee, in a protest that escalated to the point where McGhee ripped some papers out of Collins’ hand.
She and another Scientologist ended up suing McGhee and Griffiths for harassment and assault. Eventually, both lawsuits were heard together, and both were successful — Pete won his defamation case against Collins, and Collins won her harassment lawsuit against Griffiths and McGhee. The result was that Pete was supposed to come out a little ahead, with his award from Collins being more than what he was to pay her in her suit, but he hasn’t seen a dime of that award and isn’t sure if he’s ever going to get it.
And besides the lack of any winnings, the years of litigation were not cheap. In order to pay his attorney, Pete did a fundraiser (that we helped him with here at the Bunker, in fact), but he also had to cash out a pension fund.
Initially, the UK revenue service taxed him on that pension money, but then it returned that tax payment to him. Pete spent that money on more activism work, helping to pay for some Scientology critics to attend an event in Brussels, for example.
But then he got a surprise. The UK might have decided not to tax his pension money, but Ireland considered it income, and gave him a tax bill he didn’t expect, for 1500 euros.
He says he didn’t worry about it because he expected he still had that court award from Collins coming. But now, not only has he not received anything from winning the court case (and he doesn’t know if he ever will), but the Ireland revenue service has suddenly got very tough: They want the 1500 euros next week, or they’re getting the local sheriff involved.
Pete says the payment plan they’re asking for is about 35 percent of his weekly income, something he can’t manage, even as frugally as he lives.
We hate to see someone who has given so much to expose Scientology’s controversies for so long caught in such a stupid government pickle. It would mean a lot to us personally if the readers of the Bunker could chip in a few dollars at Pete’s fundraising account and keep the local sheriff at bay.
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Hey, Dave, the process servers have been unleashed!
Well, this is fun…
A summons has been issued in the Valerie Haney lawsuit, giving notice to the defendants — Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center, and David Miscavige — that they have 30 days after being served papers to respond to the court in writing.
So now it’s a matter of a copy of this getting into Dave’s hands, and we can’t wait to hear he’s been served.
And this, with just days to go before Dave’s next personal appearance, Friday and Saturday nights at the big tent at Saint Hill in East Grinstead, England, for the IAS anniversary spectacular!
You can bet Dave’s head is going to be on a swivel!
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Meanwhile, in Canada…
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Source Code
“The most serious barrier that an auditor has to overcome in Security Checking is not necessarily his own case, but a courage in asking . . to ask the questions. You know, that’s kind of a raw, mean, brassy sort of a thing to do. You sit down. Here’s this nice young girl. Everybody knows she’s a virgin. Everybody knows this. And you’re in very good ARC with her and everything is going to go along fine. And then you say to her, crassly and meanly, ‘Have you ever committed any carnal sins of any character or another? Have you ever been to bed in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong man?’ And put it mildly, this is a startling question. But since I’ve started security checking, I haven’t found any virgins.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 5, 1961
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Overheard in the FreeZone
“In another universe gays could be fine indivifuals but not in this one, the way things are designed and rigged. Two sexless thetans can share sexual sensations, out of body, no doubt, but why do that — read HCOB Pain and Sex. Play any games you like but not in this universe — go find another and leave us alone!”
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Buried in US archives, a stunning indictment of Scientology and prediction of the future
[TWO years ago] Never before seen: Video of a woman moments after achieving superhuman Scientology powers
[THREE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret saucer-looking underground vault in Northern California
[FOUR years ago] VIDEO LEAK: Scientology’s New Year’s Eve 2006, when Leah Remini was still a front-row celeb!
[FIVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology wants your child, even if it’s not yet born!
[SIX years ago] Claire Headley Gets Us Prepped for Scientology’s OT Levels!
[SEVEN years ago] Oregon Dentist Ordered to Pay $348,000 After Pressuring an Employee to Attend Scientology Symposium
[EIGHT years ago] Johnny Depp and Vanity Fair: Confused About Scientology, Or Just Trolling?
[TEN years ago] Google and Twitter Slow To Take Down Slanderous Impersonation of a Scientology Critic
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,588 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,717 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,221 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,741 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 761 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 652 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,959 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,827 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,601 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,375 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,721 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,287 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,206 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,374 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,955 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,216 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,255 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,967 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,493 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,019 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,582 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,722 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,042 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,898 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,017 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,372 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,675 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,781 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,183 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,055 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,638 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,133 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,387 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,496 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 5, 2019 at 07:00
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | Shelly Miscavige, 14 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 | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
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