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Irishman Writes of Scientology Hell

John Duignan joined the Church of Scientology at a low ebb in his life, and became ensnared by its teachings for 22 years. He just penned a book about his harrowing experience, and alleges that the world's most famous Scientologist, Tom Cruise, has used his influence to pull it from Amazon. APRIL DREW interviews Duignan, now back living in Cork.

APRIL DREW

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 1:23 AM

Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:59 PM

After spending more than two decades being what he calls "brainwashed" by the Church of Scientology, Co. Cork native John Duignan believes that A list movie star and noted Scientologist Tom Cruise is the reason why Amazon U.K. stopped selling his exposé about life in the "cult."

Duignan, who spoke to the Irish Voice from Cork City last week, spent most of his adult life under the rigorous "control of Scientologists," and after "he started to piece things together" he escaped their clutches and created a tell-all book on his "outrageous and terrifying" experiences during his 22 years of what he describes as "total brainwashing."

Days after his 318-page book "The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology" (published by Irish-based Merlin) went on sale through Amazon.co.uk, the site stopped selling the book. Amazon, in a statement, said that a man claimed he was defamed in the book with "false claims" and they were forced to remove the book for their website.

"U.K. law gives us no choice but to remove the title from our catalogue," Amazon said in a statement. Cruise's rep also denied Duignan's charge.

Duignan says this is a "load of rubbish."

"It was Tom Cruise's recent visit to Amazon headquarters in Seattle that put a stop to the sale of my book," he said.

Cruise, a proud and open Scientologist, visited the Amazon headquarters in Seattle three days after the book went on sale through the site on October 31, 2008. He allowed senior staff a sneak peak at his new movie "Valkyrie," which opens on Christmas Day.

"I know how covert operations work within the organization," said Duignan, suggesting that Cruise, who he believes received orders from the top, was in Seattle to make sure his book doesn't get the exposure it deserves.

"No negative book on Scientology is out there because they have stopped them all. Mine will be the first of its kind revealing the truth behind the cult," Duignan said emotionally.

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