The Irish Times, Wednesday, June 11, 1997

Scientology church protests banned by High Court

The Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin Ltd was granted a temporary injunction in the High Court yesterday to prevent protesting within 10 yards of the door of its premises at Middle Abbey Street, Dublin.

The order, which runs until next Monday, was granted against Mr Damian Fortune and Mr Dermot Fortune, Main Street, Gorey, Co Wexford, their servants or agents and any person having notice of the order.

It also prevents interference or attempted interference with the servants or agents of the company lawfully carrying out their activities.

The temporary injunction was granted by Mr Justice O'Sullivan on the application of Mr James Macken SC, for the Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin Ltd.

Mr Kieran Ryan, who is also a plaintiff in the case, said in an affidavit that the application concerned a controversy which had arisen in respect of a member of the Danish organisation of the Church of Scientology, based in Copenhagen.

The controversy had arisen in respect of Mr Odhran Fortune, a brother of the two defendants.

Mr Ryan said that at 10.30 a.m. last Monday he looked out of the window of the group's information centre at Middle Abbey Street and saw a large number of protesters outside. In the initial stages, the protesters numbered about 20. At various stages of the day the number increased to 30 to 40.

He had no objection to people protesting outside the information centre provided the protest was carried out in a peaceful manner and that the numbers involved were not such as to be coercive or intimidatory or to interfere with the Church of Scientology in Dublin lawfully carrying on its activities in accordance with the Constitution.

However, that was not what occurred in the course of the day. As the day progressed, the atmosphere grew more and more hostile.

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