Scientology-linked rehab centre in Meath remains ‘committed’ to opening

The controversial drug facility at Ballivor, Co Meath, remains unopened, almost four years after winning a legal battle with residents.

In November 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the High Court that An Bord Pleanála was incorrect in ruling that the facility at Ballivor, Co Meath, required planning permission.

This gave Narconon Trust, the rehab centre linked to the controversial church, the go-ahead for its plans for the site which was originally earmarked to be a nursing home.

When contacted, a spokesperson for Narconon said they are still working towards an opening date, and that a caretaker is living on site.

Sheila MacLean of the Narconon Trust said: “Narconon is not yet open to clients and yes, there is a caretaker onsite at the facility.

“We are working towards opening; however, we do not have a date to share at this time.

“Narconon has been providing a drug rehabilitation programme that works, for more than 50 years across 18 countries and we are very keen to get going in Ireland.

“We are fully committed to bringing Narconon’s unique drug-free approach to rehabilitation to the people who need it. We are focused on completing all the necessary preparations to open our facility.”

The Ballivor rehabilitation centre is intended to be the first Narconon facility in Ireland, though the Church of Scientology already has a community centre in the Dublin suburb of Firhouse as well as its headquarters on Merrion Square.

Narconon’s “unique drug-free approach” refers to not weaning addicts off drugs. Instead, participants go cold turkey.

Its drug detoxification programme uses high doses of vitamins, coupled with long periods in dry saunas, which it says flushes toxins out of drug users’ bodies.

Claire O’Mara, of the Ballivor Says No action group, said she and others in the community were not against rehab centres, but they have concerns about Narconon’s methods.

“We feel that Ballivor, or anywhere in Ireland, is not a place for any Scientology-run business, let alone a Narconon centre.

“We know they have staff and security living there — but with the hoarding up, we actually don’t know if they are in operation. We hope not.

"Weekly deliveries from a supermarket are still happening, so we honestly don’t know what’s going on in our own village.”

Aontú leader and Meath TD Peadar Tóibín, who has been involved in protests opposing the centre, also has concerns about the methods used by Narconon.

He has also queried whether it “will ever open its doors at this stage”, adding “we hope not”.

The TD said drug and alcohol rehab facilities were in short supply, but believes that private facilities were unregulated.

“Right now, anyone can set up a private rehab clinic, using any regime, and they are not subject to any HSE or Hiqa inspections. That needs to change immediately,” he said.

“Experts in drug rehabilitation do not agree that high doses of vitamins and saunas are an effective way of weaning people off hard drugs.”

The site was acquired in 2016 by Narconon Trust, which is registered in Sussex, in south-east England. The trust was founded by a director of the Church of Scientology.