A woman agreed at the High Court yesterday that she was pursuing a legal action for damages against the Church of Scientology partly because she felt it was her Christian duty.
She would have taken the case even if she was a Muslim, Ms Mary Johnston added. Her action resumed yesterday having being adjourned before Christmas.
Ms Johnston (40), who operates a sports equipment centre at Westwood, Foxrock, Dublin, is suing the Church of Scientology mission of Dublin and three of its members - Mr John Keane, Mr Tom Cunningham and Mr Gerard Ryan. She is seeking damages for alleged conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of constitutional rights. In continuing cross-examination of Ms Johnston yesterday, Mr Michael Collins SC, for the defendants, suggested to the plaintiff that she considered it part of her Christian duty to pursue proceedings against the Church of Scientology.
Ms Johnston replied: "I suppose I do ultimately."
She added that she believed in the remit of Christ and, if there was wrong, to expose it to the light.
However, her main reason for taking the action was because the things perpetrated against her had damaged her. She would have done so even if she was a Muslim and not because she was a Christian.