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Family tries to free 'hostage' from cult
East Grinstead Courier, June 12 1997, page 3
By Francesca Parker [Picture of three people in front of the Saint Hill main gate. Caption: Increased security measures are in place at the Scientology headquarters at Saint Hill. Courier photo 108136/13A] Irish protesters forced their way into the Church of Scientology in East Grinstead on Saturday claiming a 24-year-old man was being held against his will. The family of Irishman Odhran Fortune believed he was being kept under lock and key at the cult's headquarters at Saint Hill and had been "brain-washed" by the Scientologists. Brother Diarmuid, 30, told the Courier: "We believe Odhran was abducted by the Church of Scientology and brought to East Grinstead where he is being kept against his will." On Saturday, 14 family members and friends of Mr Fortune pushed their way into the Saint Hill headquarters before being escorted away by police. The family has now been served with a High Court injunction restraining them from entering any Church of Scientology property. The move followed a silent protest outside the gates on Friday when the family paraded banners marked "free my brother" and "set free Odhran".
Intense
They had been denied access by security guards after demanding to see Mr Fortune, who had come into the country on June 1. Denying suggestions Mr Fortune was at Saint Hill, head of public affairs Graeme Wilson said the initial confrontation had been intense. Mr Fortune fled his parents' home in Ireland after being allegedly being kept under 24 hour surveillance by family members and a team of four de-programmers, battling to "break his faith". He has been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1993 and based in Denmark since 1994. But he claims that after spending Christmas with his family in Ireland last year they- along with a team of four de-programmers including Bonnie Woods of East Grinstead- subjected him to a barrage of emotional blackmail and physical restraint to prevent him returning to Denmark. In a statement Mr Fortune said: "For the past five months I have been kept under constant guard by family members and friends. They took my passport away. I have been physically restrained and they used blackmail when I wished to leave." He added: "I did not want to get my family into trouble and there was never any opportunity to get away without being stopped." He is reported to have told friends he wanted to repair relations with his family, with whom he met on Friday afternoon. Mr Wilson, who helped Mr Fortune escape to England, said talks between the family broke down after they refused to accept Mr Fortune had the right to choose his own religion. He told the Courier: "It's very odd that a family should go to this extreme to get someone to change their mind about being a Scientologist." Bonnie Woods said: "I have advised the Fortune family and I will continue to provide them with support and guidance for as long as they ask me to."
Cult takes out family writs
The Church of Scientology has issued High Court writs against five people from the same family. The cult is seeking to ban the five from coming within 200 metres of its Saint Hill headquarters, or any other buildings belonging to it. It is also seeking up to UKP10,000 damages for trespass. It has taken the action under the title of the Church of Scientology Religious Education College Inc. and gives its address as 6 Portland road, East Grinstead. The Fortune family have been seeking to "rescue" Odhran Fortune who they claim has been "brainwashed" by the cult (see story above). The defendants are: James Fortune (known as Joe Fortune), sued on his own behalf and on behalf of all accompanying friends and relatives participating in the protest regarding Odhran Fortune other than the named defendant, of [address removed in case the family do not want it on the 'net- MLP]; Anne Fortune, Diarmuid Fortune and Damien Fortune of the same address; and Denyse fortune, whose address is [address removed for similar reasons].
Injunction
The complete statement of claim contained in the writ reads: "The plaintiff's claim is for an injunction to restrain the defendants whether by themselves, their servants or agents or otherwise howsoever form entering upon or coming with 200 metres of the plaintiff's premises at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, West Sussex; or entering upon any other premises belonging to or occupied by the plaintiff, and for damages limited to UKP10,000 for trespass on the plaitiff's said premises at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, West Sussex on Saturday June 7 1997; and for interest pursuant to section 35A of the Supreme Court Act 1981 at such a rate and for such a period as the Court shall think fit."
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