GAA club in row over €20k ‘linked to Scientology’

A GAA club has been accused of taking ‘blood money’ for voting to accept funds from an organisation linked to the Church of Scientology.

Ballivor GFC in Co. Meath is undergoing a major redevelopment programme which will see the club add a second adult pitch to its premises, as well as an astro turf pitch.

To help fundraise, the club held an extraordinary meeting on Friday at which they voted overwhelmingly to accept a package worth €20,000 from a drug treatment centre, which will be run by Narconon – the group linked with the Church of Scientology – which will be located on the site of an old national school.

The offer for the use of the club’s car park for builders of the new centre is in exchange for construction goods worth up to €20,000.

The location of the Narconon drug treatment centre in Ballivor has been the subject of protests.

And the Ballivor Says No group has been highly critical of the club’s decision.

Local activist John McGhee posted on Facebook: ‘The GAA in Ballivor, Co. Meath, have accepted 20k in blood money... for the use of their car park. Shame on the GAA.’

Sinn Féin Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín said: ‘There is also widespread worries in the Ballivor community as to the dangers of this service and its effect on the community.’

Ballivor GFC – which was formed in 1929 and to date has won four intermediate county football titles – has made no comment on its decision.

The Church of Scientology in Dublin has not yet replied to a request for comment.