Buying to bury a story

LAST weekend we reported on the activities of a mysterious religious organisation, Maria Divine Mercy, which has been criticised by, among others, clerics in the US and the Archbishop of Dublin.

Our story sparked national debate and, for three days last week, was discussed on Joe Duffy’s Liveline.

Concerns were expressed about the manner in which people were allegedly being manipulated by the organisation. However, despite repeated invitations by Duffy, no representative of MDM was prepared to go on air to speak about their activities.

Today, we publish an extraordinary set of photos that seem to illustrate the extent to which a well-known PR consultant who has been linked to MDM was prepared to go to in an effort to suppress this story. She purchased close to 300 copies of the Irish Mail on Sunday in shops in one particular area.

And we once again extend an open invitation to MDM to come forward and put their side of the story. We have only one interest in all of this – to find out the truth in the public interest.