Scientology-linked rehab centre in Meath remains ‘committed’ to opening
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Questions have been raised about whether a €9m residential drug rehabilitation centre linked to the Church of Scientology will ever open its doors, following major opposition from the local community.
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.
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