The opening date for the new Church of Scientology in Firhouse has been revealed

The property was bought last year for around €6 million, €12 million less than what it was valued at seven years ago.

Dublin Live/October 9, 2017

By Alana Fearon

The Church of Scientology is to hold a grand opening of its new “Ideal Org” at the former Victory Centre in Firhouse on October 14 next week.

The property was bought last year for around €6 million, €12 million less than what it was valued at seven years ago.

The new premises comes complete with a 1,100-seat ‘grand auditorium’, even though the 2016 Census only recorded 87 Scientologists in Ireland.

Mike Rinder, former Executive Director of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs describes the Ideal Org strategy as a “real estate, money making scheme and PR campaign for internal scientologists".

Some 250 Scientologists are being recruited from around the world to staff this new HQ. Nwoga Chukwuebuka Paschal, an African recruit for the Dublin centre, posted on Facebook that he had signed a five-year contract.

He revealed: “I am the first Nigerian to be signed by the Dublin mission but will never be the last. I will probably spend more time abroad within these five years, but will surely have time to bring every good news or package to Nigeria or Africa.”

Pete Griffiths, an ex-Scientologist from Co Mayo, said: “From 1987 to 2008, the thought control was all in place. Then a lengthy unravelling process began.

"I got so angry that I burned any Scientology stuff I had lying around in a bonfire. I couldn’t look at it any more. The sense of betrayal is just incredible. The clues are all there, but you don’t see them."

David Miscavige, leader of the Church of Scientology since the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986, will be in Dublin for the opening.