Scientologists have been stalking the corridors of power in Leinster House where they had a meeting with a TD.
The Irish Mirror can exclusively reveal the controversial Church of Scientology, which many view as a cult, was invited into Leinster House by Fine Gael’s Colm Brophy.
The small business owner confirmed he hosted a delegation from the church, which ranks Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise among its members.
Mr Brophy said he met representatives in September in his role as a public representative and talked with them “for around ten minutes” in the coffee dock area of Leinster House.
He added he would also talk to many people opposed to scientology coming into Dublin.
Mr Brophy said he meets representatives from many different organisations because it is important to hear diverse views and often from those with differing opinions to the mainstream.
The scientologists have established a church and community centre in Firhouse, which is in the politician’s Dublin South-West constituency. They contacted all five TDs for the area for a meeting, but Fianna Fail’s John Lahart, Sean Crowe of Sinn Fein, Solidarity’s Paul Murphy and Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone refused.
Mr Murphy has serious worries about the arrival of the secretive church in Ireland, claiming: “I am concerned they target vulnerable people.”
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Mr Lahart has written to the Justice Minister through a Parliamentary Question outlining his fears.
He said: “Their new centre in my constituency is adjacent to vulnerable communities, that would be my concern.”
Mr Crowe spoke of his worries over the scientologists’ Christmas Wonderland experience when he appeared on RTE’s Liveline with Joe Duffy earlier this week.
A spokesman for Ms Zappone told the Mirror she definitely did not meet with the church which, it is understood, has been met with some suspicion and hostility from parents and residents in the area.
Scientology has faced countless controversies over the years, from its claim mental illness doesn’t exist, that they can cure autism with a €1,600 detoxification treatment, to rumours they believe in an extraterrestrial being named Xenu.
Their centre at Firhouse is currently lit up brightly for the festive season and they are offering a Christmas Wonderland experience with free admission for kids.
A spokesman for the church said they were not trying to influence Mr Brophy in any way.
He added: “It was a quick meeting. We came in and we said, ‘Here we are, this is what we do.’ There was no agenda there.”