A woman suffered a personality change after she was sucked into the grasp of the Church of Scientology and subjected to mind control techniques, the High Court was told today. Ms Mary Johnson has sued the Church for damages.
Among courses Ms Johnson reluctantly signed up for was a "purification run-down", the court heard. The starting point for entry to the Church was a personality test which was "not a proper psychological test". Ms Johnson was also trained to resist her family and when she tried to leave, there were efforts to silence and intimidate her, her lawyer said.
Dundalk-born Ms Johnson (40), a former inter-provincial squash player for Leinster who has a sports equipment shop at Westwood, Foxrock, has brought proceedings against the Church and three of its members: Mr John Keane, described as a "mission holder", Mr Tom Cunningham and Mr Gerard Ryan.
Opening the case before Mr Justice Peart, which is expected to run for two weeks, Mr Sean Ryan SC, for Ms Johnson, said the evidence would be that she was effectively sucked into the grasp of this orgnisation and subjected to processes and procedures which brought her under its control and influence. Her involvement began in 1992 and efforts were made to prevent her leaving, to silence, devalue and intimidate her and to prevent her suing.