'Disappointed and frustrated' over Court of Appeal ruling

One of the most vocal opponents to Narconon's plans to open a drug rehabilitation centre in Ballivor has said she is "disappointed and frustrated" by the Court of Appeal's ruling yesterday.

Claire O'Mara, one of the original committee members of the Ballivor Says No group has vowed to continue her fight against the drug rehabilitation centre opening in the village and she has pleaded with An Bord Pleanala to take the case further by appealing the Court of Appeal's decision to the Supreme Court.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision that An Bord Pleanála was incorrect in deciding that the facility at Ballivor requires planning permission.

Ms O'Mara said she is disappointed and frustrated.

"The people of Ballivor are asking, they are pleading to an Bord Pleanala to appeal this case to the Supreme Court. We are asking for TDs and councillors and Taoiseach Micheal Martin to stand up and hear us. Yes, we are a small village, but we want to be heard and we don't understand why people won't listen.

"If anything this has lit an even bigger fire under me. I am not going to end my fight, not by a long shot," she said.

Ms O'Mara said it is now in Bord Pleanala's hands and has also appealed for legislation around drug treatment centres. "There is nothing the people of Ballivor can do. We need legislation put in place. If there was legislation, it would be governed by the HSE and HIQA ."

Responding to Narconon's claims that the people of Ballivor now have a very different attitude, Ms O'Mara totally refuted this.

"They need to take their heads out of the clouds. The people in Ballivor in the shops have to serve them have and have to be polite but that doesn't mean they are welcoming them into the community.

They are trying to infiltrate themselves into our community. They are not being welcomed. They are offering assistance to the community in Ballivor and they've been refused.

"I am praying to God that Pleanala appeal it. We have been fighting for so long, no other group has challenged Scientology as much as we have. We are not giving up now. We are not going anywhere."

The Meath Chronicle understands that the Court of Appeal's decision can be appealed in certain circumstances but An Bord Pleanala would have to first apply to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal.