Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault on a young teenager at the new Scientology centre in Dublin.

The 14-year-old's mother reportedly claims he suffered a number of injuries - including a fractured wrist - during the alleged incident at the Firhouse centre.

A garda spokesperson confirmed that officers are investigating reports of an assault on a minor by a security guard on the Firhouse Road at around 6:30pm last Saturday night.

But in a statement released to Newstalk.com, the Church of Scientology disputes what happened.

It claims "a group of unruly teenagers" had to be escorted off the property on three separate occasions due "abusive and disruptive behavior".  

It adds that they shouted offensive language and refused to leave when asked to do so.

It says an incident between one of the teenagers and a security guard was reported to the gardaí.

"According to the security person, the teenager left the property immediately after with his friends, without showing any sign of injury", the statement concludes.

Meath protest

It comes after a protest was held in County Meath on Wednesday against plans to open a scientology-linked drug rehab centre in Ballivor.

The 56-bed Narconon facility is due to open on the site of a former national school.

The controversial church's Irish website describes Narconon as a "Church-sponsored drug rehabilitation programme that helps addicts escape the dangerous cycles of drug abuse", adding that it "utilises drug withdrawal techniques that focus on an intense detoxification process rather than other drugs".

However, the methods used at the centres in other countries are widely disputed.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, the Taoiseach warned that the “only people who should provide services with respect to addiction are people who are appropriately qualified and appropriately licensed to do so." 

Additional reporting: Jack Quann