During the Church of Scientology’s presentation highlighting the best of 2013, leader David Miscavige made false claims about the Dublin mission’s “grassroots” work in Ireland. Companies and radio stations featured in the video denied their association with the group while government statistics disprove other claims.
At a complex in Clearwater, FL Miscavige spoke for nearly two hours on New Year’s Eve about the church’s international campaigns. He claims that Scientology reading material has been distributed to three percent “of the reading public” in Ireland and their literature on drug use has led to an 85 percent drug-crime decrease.
Referring to Ireland as having “one of the finest literary traditions of the western world" and as a "land of both enduring beauty and beautiful sadness," he goes on to describe the work being done out of their Abbey Street headquarters in Dublin.
He lists the services provided by Scientology in Dublin including “Personal Efficiency” and “Life Improvement.”
Miscavige says, “Where this mission of Dublin begins to assume a distinctly Irish profile is with a grassroots campaign to meet the LRH [L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology’s founder] target by capturing one percent of the reading public with LRH based books.”
The video then shows clips of Scientologist volunteers handing out books and leaflets on Talbot Street, Moore Street and also at various well-known shops and entertainment venues. The spokesperson of one of the pubs mentioned told the Evening Herald they had “no knowledge” of the group distributing information in their bar. Another hair salon said they had been promised that there would be no mention of the establishment’s name in the video.
The church’s presentation goes on to claim that the Dublin mission has "accomplished an 85% drop in drug-related crime."
The latest statistics from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office shows that there has been about a seven percent decrease in drug crime in the past 12 months.
The church leader refers to an unnamed local councilor who said “You set a shining example. You have effective solutions and are dedicated to improve the lives of others.”
The video then shows footage of the councillor being interviewed by Ocean FM and the BBC.
Ocean FM denies any knowledge of such an interview. In a statement issued on their site they said:
“Management of Ocean FM Ireland have reacted with amazement after a bogus video purporting to show a Scientology broadcast from its studios.”
They add “The studio is NOT that of Ocean FM, and the ‘presenter’ conducting the interview is not known to anyone at Ocean.”
The local radio station said they are “investigating the matter."
The BBC similarly stated, “The BBC is an independent, impartial organization. Any misuse of its brand is considered a serious matter and will be investigated.”
Speaking on air to Ocean FM’s Niall Delaney, Sabrina Shortt, a Scientologist, admitted that the church had re-enacted the interview for their presentation.
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