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YTS Girls Sent On Cult Course
Evening News, "Scotland's Capital Newspaper", Thursday, December 8, 1994
(This case was also reported on Scottish television's national "Scotland Today" news program, on Thursday December 9, 6.30pm broadcast)Part One (Front Page Headline)
SCIENTOLOGY: Jobs bosses investigate claims against dance shop owner
YTS GIRLS SENT ON CULT COURSE
An Edinburgh businesswoman introduced teenage employees to a powerful religious cult, an Evening News investigation reveals today.
Eve McAuley, who owns a shop in Edinburgh's east end, arranged for five young members of staff - four of them on the Youth Training Scheme - to attend courses run by the Scientology sect.
Mrs McAuley (43) herself a senior Scientologist, claimed she used "communication courses" at the cult's offices in the Capital as a training tool for her assistants, all of them girls as young as 16.
Now YTS bosses are to investigate Mrs McAuley's alleged actions. They have suspended her dancewear business from their placement files until inquiries are complete.
One former employee - who spent five months involved with the world's largest and richest religious sect - has now spoken for the first time of her experience.
Jackie McLay (16) took a series of courses at the Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence, named after Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, in South Bridge.
She told of her relief at being back home in Newhaven after two extraordinary days at the sect's headquarters in Sussex.
Two cult members dressed in naval uniforms arrived late at night at her mother's home to ask permission to take Jackie to the imposing Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, where she spent 36 exhausting hours taking test after test and studying Scientology literature.
"It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I am still really shaken up by it all," said Jackie today.
Jackie said she felt hurt and let down by Mrs McAuley, whom she had regarded as something of a mother figure.
"I feel she is responsible for all this because she got me started into it. I am angry because I was never told the whole story. I didn't really know what Scientology was - I was just told it was a way to solve all your problems."
Mrs McAuley set up her specialist dancewear business, Zzaj, in Broughton Street, five years ago.
A Scientologist for ten years, she is a trained "auditor" - a kind of counsellor - with the sect and claims its courses have improved her assistants' communication skills and enhanced their lives.
"I have had five staff members here who have all done communication courses and they have all done fantastically well," she said.
In a faxed response, the Church of Scientology stated: "As with a number of employees, Mrs McAuley recommended that Jackie do some courses at the Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence at South Bridge to help with her work.
"These courses taught skills in communication, study methods, efficiency at work, etc. The courses were paid for by Mrs McAuley and were attended during Jackie's paid work time."
The statement also referred to a visit by a training manager to the Zzaj shop as part of the YTS investigation.
It went on: "The YTS representative interviewed another young employee who confirmed that she had taken similar courses to Jackie, and that she had been invited to do the courses, not instructed to attend as a condition of employment."
Part Two (inside pages)
How Former Sci-fi Writer Became A Millionaire
The Church of Scientology was created by L Ron Hubbard, an eccentric writer of pulp science fiction who became a millionaire after inventing a do-it-yourself psychotherapy technique called Dianetics.
In the 1950s, Hubbard expanded the system into Scientology, which teaches that humans are actually Thetans - spirits banished to earth 75 trillion years ago by a galactic ruler named Xenu.
Scientologists aim to reach a "state of clear" - free from all malign influences. This can only be achieved by taking a series of courses, which can cost up to several thousand pounds each.
After reaching "clear", the ultimate goal - a lengthy and extremely pricey one - is to become an Operating Thetan (OT).
Most of the church's cash millions come from these sessions, along with residential courses at their international headquarters called Saint Hill, in Sussex.
The HQ is run by 300 uniformed members of an elite pseudo navy established by Hubbard, himself a former Naval officer.
A common introduction to Scientology comes in the form of personality tests, used to attract mainly students and young people into centres, including the Scottish HQ in South Bridge, Edinburgh.
Many of those who have answered the 200-question test find the spotlight turned on flaws in their character - with the offer of a book and course to put them right.
Scientologists believe in reincarnation and say their religion can be combined with all other faiths. They sign billion-year "contracts" with the church to emphasise their belief that they come back lifetime after lifetime.
The cult claims to have six million members, though critics put the figure at fewer than 500,000.
In 1984, the Church of Scientology was condemned as corrupt, sinister and dangerous by a judge in the High Court Family Division in London.
Mr. Justice Latey said: "It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has as its real objective money and power for its founder, his wife and those at the top.
"It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestioningly and to those outside who criticise or oppose it.
"It is dangerous because it is out to capture people, especially children and impressionable young people, and indoctrinate and brainwash them so that they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living and relationships with others."
Part Three (inside pages)
[Picture with caption "JACKIE MCLAY: The teenager was brought back home to Edinburgh after her mother Irene warned the cult she would take legal action."]
Jackie'S Trip Set Alarm Bells Ringing
It seemed the perfect start in life for a bright, 16-year-old school-leaver whose sights were set on a career in sales. Jackie McLay was thrilled when she was offered a Youth Training Scheme in a reputable dancewear shop just a couple of miles from her home.
Within weeks of starting at Zzaj in Broughton Street, she was asked by owner Eve McAuley to attend a communication course which would benefit her performance at work.
Soon, Jackie was attending "The Org" - as the Hubbard Academy in South Bridge is dubbed by members - three times a week, including evenings and weekends, over a period of several months.
Last week, she was driven to the group's imposing castle headquarters in Sussex where she spent 36 exhausting hours taking test after test and studying Scientology literature.
After the intervention of her mother Irene - who warned the cult that she would take legal action - Jackie was brought home to Newhaven, Edinburgh.
Now the teenager is keen to warn others to steer clear of the sect, who use personality tests to attract passers-by into their centres.
Jackie's mother, Irene McLay (43), said two members of the sect arrived at her door one evening, saying they wanted Jackie to accompany them to the Saint Hill HQ, in East Grinstead, Sussex.
She reluctantly agreed, but decided to make some further inquiries and eventually contacted Escape - a group set up to advise families of those caught up in Scientology. Jackie was subsequently driven home.
Part Four (inside pages)
City Woman Sends Staff On Scientology Courses
Teenage girls were introduced to a powerful religious cult by their boss.
Eve McAuley is a petite, 43-year-old businesswoman with a cut-glass accent and manners to match. She is also a Scientologist - and has introduced five young members of her staff to the sect.
Mrs McAuley openly boasts of investing large sums of money to send her assistants on "communication courses" at the cult's Scottish HQ in the Capital.
Mrs McAuley, who herself turned to Scientology ten years ago, refutes the belief that techniques employed during these initial courses can leave people in a suggestible state.
Jackie McLay, Mrs McAuley's most recent YTS trainee, was involved with Scientology for five months after attending her first course. An 18-year old assistant who still works at the shop has been taking courses for the past two years.
Mrs McAuley, originally from London, arrived in Edinburgh in 1987 and established Zzaj, her specialist dancewear shop in Broughton Street, five years ago. She is a "trained auditor" - akin to a counsellor - with the Church of Scientology.
She claims the courses not only improve her assistants' communication skills, but actually enhance their lives.
[Picture with caption "Eve McAuley: She has introduced five members of her staff to the sect."]
Jackie McLay is hopeful that her decision to speak out will prevent other young people from going through a similar experience to her own.
Edinburgh-based Support Training Ltd - who provide work placements for more than 1000 people across Scotland and the North of England - have now withdrawn the Zzaj shop from their files while they carry out a detailed investigation.
General manager Tommy Sutherland said: "Our inquiries have resulted in the decision to suspend this company from our list of approved placement companies.
"We have arranged to see the trainee and her mother later this week to determine what possible further action could be taken to prevent incidents of this nature happening within our training programme.
"We very much regret that this incident has taken place."
Three miles from a mock-medieval castle called Saint Hill in Sussex where hundreds gather together in the name of Scientology lies a much more modest HQ - that of a small but industrious help group called Escape.
Set up three years ago by former sect members, the group's aims are simple - to counsel families of those who have become caught up with the cult, and help "refugees" start life afresh.
It was to Escape that Irene McLay turned when her daughter Jackie was taken to Sussex for a residential course. She believes their no-nonsense advice was the key to getting her daughter home.
A founder member of Escape, who asked only to be named as Bonnie, said the group was particularly alarmed by Jackie's story on account of her tender years.
And she was full of praise for Mrs McLay's persistence in the face of a barrage of phonecalls from senior sect members.
"I think it was touch and go - if it had been any longer, I think Jackie could have easily become much more involved and it would have been difficult to reach her."
Bonnie commented that Eve McAuley's role in introducing teenagers to the sect was "very alarming".
"Young girls are ever so vulnerable," she said.
Escape says the 200-question personality test which introduces many people to Scientology is a "highly effective recruiting tool", and believes some of the techniques used in the initial courses can leave people in a "highly suggestible state".
When the Evening News contacted the Church of Scientology at Saint Hill, they asked for our questions in writing. We faxed a list of queries relating to living conditions at Saint Hill, techniques employed during communication courses and asked why so many phonecalls were made to Mrs McLay.
Their four-page response refused to deal with these points, saying our questions were "so ludicrous that they are insulting".
The statement went on: "The truth about Scientology is so easy to find out for yourself. Books are available in public libraries and every Church of Scientology is open to the public."
Anyone who believes a member of their family may have become involved in Scientology can contact Escape on 0342 316129.
A Government-funded information agency on religious sects, Inform, can be reached on 071 955 7654. Or contact the Cult Information Centre, BCM Cults, London WC1N 3XX, tel: 081-651 3322
Part Five (inside pages)
Steps Into The Cult
MAY: Jackie leaves Leith Academy and signs on with the Youth Training Scheme.
JUNE: The young dance and drama enthusiast is offered a placement in a dancewear shop, Zzaj, owned by Eve McAuley.
LATE JUNE: Jackie is asked by Mrs McAuley to attend a communication course every Wednesday for there weeks.
JULY - NOVEMBER: Another course. Jackie attends the Hubbard Academy in South Bridge three times a week.
NOVEMBER 26: At a Scientology talk and slide-show, Jackie is asked by the sect's personnel manager if she would like to join the "Sea Org", an elite navy-style corps. She signs a list of "promises" and is told she will be leaving for the group's Sussex headquarters, Saint Hill, the following day.
NOVEMBER 27: Two cult members dressed in naval-type uniforms arrive at Irene McLay's home at 10pm, saying they wish to take Jackie to Saint Hill immediately. Mrs McLay fears Jackie will rebel if she refuses, so reluctantly agrees.
NOVEMBER 28: Jackie and her two escorts set off for Sussex.
NOVEMBER 30: At 3pm, Jackie and two cult members leave Saint Hill and start the return journey to Edinburgh.
DECEMBER 1: There is a message on Mrs McLay's telephone answering machine from Eve McAuley, wishing to speak to Jackie.
DECEMBER 3: A bundle of Scientology literature addressed to Jackie arrives through the door, dated December 1.
Part Six (Inside pages)
Church of Scientology replies
SECT CLAIM GIRL IS VICTIM OF 'CAMPAIGN OF DISINFORMATION'
When the Evening News contacted the Church of Scientology's headquarters in Sussex for their response to our investigation, a four page reply was faxed by their "Office of Special Affairs UK".
"In the short time we have had to look into this matter, it appears that Jackie McLay enjoyed her employment at Eve McAuley's dance shop, and at a time when employment is not always easy to find, she was lucky enough to have found an employer who cared for her wellbeing," it stated.
"Rather than exploiting a young employee, a complaint that is often levelled against businesses these days, Mrs McAuley obviously takes an active interest in her employees' future and works to ensure that they learn skills that will help then in their later employment."
The statement referred to a talk and slide show attended by Jackie last week, where opportunities of full-time positions with the Church of Scientology's staff were promoted.
When asked her opinion of the event by a visiting staff member, "Jackie was very interested and said that she believed there was nothing she could do that would be better than working in the church in East Grinstead".
The statement said Jackie consulted her parents about her decision to go to Sussex, and travelled to East Grinstead "expressing only interest and enthusiasm about her future".
After her first day at Saint Hill Manor, she was told her mother had contacted the police and was demanding her return to Scotland, "without giving any reason why".
Upon Jackie's arrival home, "she was whisked inside and the church staff who had driven her to Scotland practically had the door slammed in their faces".
The statement went on: "Mrs McLay had obviously been seriously disturbed by someone".
And it concluded: "In short, Jackie McLay is currently the victim of a campaign of disinformation. All the facts illustrate that she was happy in her job, happy in the courses that she was doing at the Hubbard Academy, and that she made a personal self-determined decision to apply for a position on the full-time staff of the Church of Scientology.
"What has happened subsequently should be investigated by the Evening News."
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