Scientology in the UK Media

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Cult Using Gestapo Tactics Says Woman

Chichester Observer, Thursday 7 April 1994

[Notice from FACTnet: The copy supplied to FACT of this article is especially dim. The text given below of it is based on the dim copy and guesswork.]

by Phil Hewitt

A Chichester solicitor has claimed a religious cult is using a horrifying catalogue of high-pressure tactics to silence its critics.

Beverley Ryall said she received an ?accusing? midnight call from a US private investigator sent by the Scientology cult which has a base in Chichester.

She denounced their approaches as "Gestapo tactics" and _____ _____ their methods _____ repeated threat of litigation, backed up by the distribution of "grossly defamatory" leaflets about people who leave the cult.

Critics are subjected to allegations which "would make your hair stand on end by a self-styled religion whose real interest is money-making", Mrs Ryall said.

She believed a possible motive for the midnight call she received was the cult trying to retrieve documents they wrongly believed she held about a former cult member on whose behalf she is now acting.

Mrs Ryall said it looked as if the cult was trying to get back a "pre-clear" file, a form filled out by prospective cult members detailing things they wanted to confront or felt ashamed of.

"My client's view was that as she left the church, it was hers to take. Legally they own the cardboard and the paper handle, but they are not entitled to the contents."

Mrs Ryall who practices from her home at Westgate, said: "What is happening is quite appalling. They have been harassing my clients and it is quite wrong."

She added: "They are just trying to intimidate me with Gestapo tactics -- but I don't frighten that easily."

Mrs Ryall admitted she wondered at times what she was getting herself into, but she was aware some lawyers, particularly in the US, were slow to become involved.

"There is a reluctance to take these cases on, but I suppose that's what I believe the British system of justice is here for."

Eugene Ingram, the US private eye who called at her house, is employed by the cult at their Los Angeles base.

Garry Scarff, a former cult member, has testified in an American court that Ingram was involved in a conspiracy to murder an opponent of the cult.

Mrs Ryall claimed the religious content of the cult or church was debteable and its tactics were wholly unacceptable in a free democratic society.

A spokeswoman at the cult's East Grinstead headquarters denied that Mr Ingram visited Mrs Ryall.

SCIENTOLOGISTS DENY LAWYER'S ACCUSATIONS

A Scientologist spokeswoman said they were making a compalint to the Law Society over Mrs Ryall's "false depiction of what occurred."

They accused her of a complete misrepresentation of the facts relating to the documents.

The cult was told that these were in Mrs Ryall's possession, and they were concerned that the documents might be _____ or destroyed.

They also claimed Mrs Ryall's house was attended by the head of their _____ _____ and by a police officer.

Chichester police said they were not involved.

As for allegations of Gestapo tactics, the spokeswoman added: "Accusations such as this one are false and are made by people who are lamenting and crying because they have a guilty conscience.

"It is the church which has been the victim of theft of documents and a number of people have already been implicated in ?pinching? some copies."

She denied the cult would ever try to silence people or use intimidation tactics.

"We have however invariably found that false allegations by opponents to this effect are made to create a smokescreen in order to divert from their own improprieties."

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