From: Martin Poulter
Subject: UK MEDIA (1994): Cult targets Mentally Ill
Date: 1996/09/23

Sunday Mail (Scotland), 19 June 1994

CULT TARGETS MENTALLY ILL

by Marion Scott

Scientologists are targetting the criminally insane and the mentally ill in Scotland.

They are using an official-sounding "front" organisation to spread their hatred of psychiatrists.

The Citizen's Commission on Human Rights is even trying to get inside Carstairs State Hospital.

It has already begun a campaign, involving tragic families of mentally-ill patients.

Barrie Murphy, medical director of Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services, said: "I am concerned about their activities."

Following a court case against them, Scientologists have campaigned against psychiatrists.

"Housewife and mother" Frances Hutton of Bearsden, is heading the operation in Scotland.

SUICIDE

The commission's publicity campaign promises to rid psychiatric patients and the criminally insane of the treatments "forced" upon them.

/But one tragic family did not appreciate the commission's "caring organisation" after the suicide of their mentally-ill son./ "Before Joseph was cold in the grave, they flocked around our family," said Alex Doherty, whose 30-year-old brother jumped off the Erskine Bridge.

And Joseph's father James now blames himself for his son's death after reading the Commission's propaganda about electric shock treatment, which Joe was getting.

Top criminal psychologist Ian Steven said: "This group is dangerous. They target vulnerable people because of their hatred of psychiatrists and treatment."

[picture of Frances Hutton. caption: LEADER... Scientologist Frances Hutton] [picture of Carstairs Hospital. caption: UNDER ATTACK... Carstairs]

Reader's letters pour in

After we exposed the cult we were bombarded with requests for help from worried readers who are concerned about the sinister organisation.

And there have been several moving tributes to David McLaren for speaking out against the cult.

But we have also been the target of an extensive letter writing campaign.

Dozens of mainly English Scientologists have written letters outlining the benefits of cult founder L. Ron Hubbard's wacky beliefs.

Several people said that they had been "directed" to write to the Mail.

But they appeared not to have read the articles they were complaining about.

MP Lewis Moonie also came in for some stick for campaigning against the cult.

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