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Writer is quizzed by creditors
Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday April 27, 1996
The finances of a former Notts member of a controversial church were held up to public scrutiny to destroy him, a court heard. Writer Jon Atack, 40, of Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent, appeared at Nottingham County Court during a public examination of his finances. One of the creditors, the Church of Scientology, alleged during the hearing that Mr Atack had not been straightforward with his affairs after making himself bankrupt last May. Mr Atack - who at the hearing described himself as the world's leading authority on the church - was a member for nine years before leaving in 1983. He went on to write a book about the church and acted as a consultant for others who had dealings with them. He became bankrupt - owing creditors around 200,000 - through the costs of fighting legal actions brought by the church, the Counsel for the church creditors John Critchley said: "Our account is that Mr Atack has not been straight-forward with his affairs." But Mr Atack's barrister David Ryan said: "The Scientology cult will destroy and obliterate any opposition to their teachings. The campaign to litigation comes at the tail end of their harassment. This creates a vehicle to get at him and will be used by them to further discredit and disparage." In response to questions from another creditor - his brother James Atack - Mr Atack said: "I have been approached by the cult to buy my silence. No specific amount of money but offers of payments. Offers to end all litigation and any costs." The accounts of Mr Atack's company Theta Communications were scrutinised. Mr Ryan appealed for the case to be thrown out, describing it as a "farce", but Mr Critchley said he had other matters he wished to quiz Mr Atack about. The case was adjourned until July.
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