In the 1970s, he established communes in
Templeogue and
Howth where members were often on limited pay. In 2006 a follower of Quinn who operated an Educogym in Glasgow repeated the assertion that Quinn could cure cancer. Quinn has been variously described as a
yogi, "fitness expert", "health guru", "
business guru", "mind trainer","mind coach", "saviour", "visionary", "hypnotist" and "cult leader". He became well known in Ireland as a hypnotherapist and "mind trainer" for
professional boxer Steve Collins before being sacked after 3 fights. Collins told Sky Sports "We fooled the world", and also stated in his autobiography he said "We've fooled him", after his first fight with hypnotherapist Quinn as advisor. Collins later said of Quinn that he was someone who helped him on his way but he was inferior when compared to other hypnotists. Educo is categorised as a "Human Potential Group" and "Therapy / Counseling Group" by the
Cult Education Institute. In 2009,
Sunday World journalist
Nicola Tallant reported on the contents of video footage obtained by the newspaper of an Educo Seminar and stated "In the tape Quinn claims that he is able to programme children to ensure they have a much better future, claiming he uses the same techniques that
Hitler used to programme children to carry out acts of genocide and
Hamas use to create suicide bombers from kindergarten children." The
Sunday World stated on the tape Quinn says "Children, if you realise, are almost like sponge. Their minds are sensitive and you can put programmes into children’s minds" In 2009 the
Sunday World reported that
Mike Garde, who had campaigned against Cults in Ireland, had been issued a death-threat by a Cult in Ireland. In September 2009
Dialogue Ireland published an article that indicated it was Quinn himself that issued the death-threat.
Yoga June Levine visited a Templeogue commune in 1974 where she stayed one night with 36 followers who told her they believed they were reincarnated with Quinn from the time of
Jesus Christ; one follower believed himself to be the reincarnation of
Saint Joseph. One 21-year-old orphan follower had completed a 40-day water fast and weighed 5½ stone (35 kg) and had stopped menstruating. The fast was to reconnect with God, but "not the God of religion but to the Energy that is the life force." She explained that not menstruating she had no impurities in her body. When Levine challenged Quinn on this, he responded "The yoga diet of fruit or fasting improves the body so much it becomes clean. There are no impurities to be drained away". Levine described how commune members David and Aideen Cowman had put their baby on a diet without milk, instead receiving "bone meal tablets and halibut oil". Templeogue commune members wrote to the Sunday World saying the article was not fair in what was described as "an avalanche of letters" and were noted that "the similarity of their content is rather remarkable". The letters claimed the lady, who stayed at the commune for 10 days, was "mentally disturbed before she went" to the commune and there was no consistent explanation as to why she was allowed to stay. One letter claimed many psychiatrists recommended Tony Quinn's Yoga for similar cases. A photostat of a letter written by a commune member named Sean Nolan was in circulation and claimed "The classes were unique. And Tony was unique. He was taught by no man, followed no teacher, for he was born with certain abilities which made all of this unnecessary." The letter described how people like
Mozart,
Leonardo da Vinci and
Thomas Edison attributed their creations to a greater intelligence that Quinn possessed, and that "
Jesus,
Buddha and other great masters of the past" used this intelligence. The letter stated that in the world was only one man who could "practice this meditation at its perfect level – Tony Quinn". The letter went on "he seems to be transformed into light as the aura vanishes and the outline of his body becomes indefinite". The letter later claimed Quinn could heal the sick and cast out evil spirits. In 1977 the
Evening Press reported on the disappearance of two members of the Howth commune of 34 members living together for 4 years. The commune's library contained books on Occult, "How To" books", Health and Fitness, Factual, Religious, Classic and Astrology subjects. Quinn himself did not live in the commune. When asked about the finances Quinn responded "Everybody thinks I am making a fortune". Quinn addressed the claims that families have been broken by his influence, "People say We break up families — but the opposite should be the case". When asked about the high costs he responded "Our ambition would be to give classes for nothing. But it seems people don't attend in the same way, as when they pay for them." Martin and Margaret Forde, both long time followers of Quinn, were seen at the Templeogue commune in 1974 In 2025 it was reported that
BBC Radio Derby and
Sabras Radio presenter Pam Sidhu and her husband were recruiters for EDUCO and that the
BBC had ignored safeguarding reports about her. Previously in 2019 Sabras Radio published two podcasts hosted by presenter Pam Sidhu featuring guest Caroline McDonagh, a nutritionist from Ireland, who was described by the
Sunday World as a "disciple" of Quinn. Another 2019 episode of the Sabras Radio podcast hosted by Sidhu featured Babu Shah who self-identifies as an "EDUCO Seminar Agent".
Seminars The seminars incorporate guided meditations; speaking to attendees Quinn would describe a visualisation of wealth to which the attendees would respond with ecstatic vigour. Attendees would be offered CDs of guided-meditations and be encouraged to listen daily when at home. Quinn would often repeat the need for attendees to recommend the seminars to others for attendees to achieve success on their return. Investigative journalist
Frank Parlato, who also covered the American sex cult of
NXIVM, summed up “Unconscious Attention®,” which Quinn claims is the core of his Educo seminars; "Quinn [claimed] his 'mind technology' would increase a student’s 'life force' [or Qi], raise their consciousness and deepen their life experience. "He taught that by increasing 'life force,' a person becomes happier, healthier, and more successful. "He taught that people must tap into the 'innate mental capacity and power' of the unconscious mind to increase life force. This allows them to use more of their mind to achieve their highest potential and transform into 'Super You.' "Ten-day seminars cost $20,000. After learning preliminary 'mind technology,' students can advance to the “Mind Masters” course, which costs $50,000." An attendee of a seminar told of attendees spending hours flailing on the floor, and of
Folie imposée (jumping around whilst seeing and pointing to lights coming out of the sea when there were none) under the instruction of Quinn. In 2005, The
Sunday Times sent in an undercover reporter to a London invitation-only event where it was revealed Educo, Quinn's life-system, planned to expand in the United Kingdom and also offer its form of
hypnotherapy to children. The Educo Seminars operated like a pyramid-selling scheme and the reporter was encouraged to borrow to pay for the two-week seminar fee of £12,000. About 70 people would attend each seminar held in locations such as Egypt and the Bahamas, and were offered weekly "top-up" sessions. A £15,000 seminar fee would generate £2,000 for the person who made the introduction; if the newcomer recruited someone else the introducer would receive a further £1,000. Sean Collins spoke of how conditioning from the seminars could put attendees at risk of something akin to the
Dunning–Kruger effect, adding that he had met attendees of the seminars who could not produce any substantive results and only enthusiastic anecdotes. In 2009
Dialogue Ireland was said to have worked with 300 people who were dissatisfied with their experiences of Quinn. The Sunday Times claimed differing views of Quinn's seminar business by seminar attendees, from an expensive personal-development course to him overseeing a manipulative overpriced mind-altering scheme. Four
RTÉ Liveline broadcasts in the week before the 1-day-seminar were broadcast with calls critical of Quinn and his seminar with callers alluding Educo was, as reported by the
Irish Independent, a "cult". Quinn later complained about media coverage of his Educo seminar saying "It's a witch-hunt. It has upset an awful lot of good people and it could do damage to people's reputations and livelihoods." He continued "What I charge is really in the same ballpark as other people at the top of this league, people like
Anthony Robbins. I do most of my seminar work in the Bahamas and Monte Carlo now. I help people achieve goals in their life and work continuously with people." Quinn reportedly complained to the
Broadcasting Complaints Commission in Ireland about
Joe Duffy's Liveline show. It was later revealed in 2012 that
Sunday World had seen a "military-style intelligence file" on Joe Duffy, paid for by International Natural Energy and produced by Henrima Ltd., "alleging he is a member of religious group '
Opus Dei'". In 2010 the fees for the Educo Seminar were reportedly dropped by 66% to €6000 in the hope of increasing attendance which had slumped due to negative publicity and as a "face-saving" exercise. Introductory events for the Educo Seminar were held in London as recently as May 2020 with long-term members of Educo "Manj & Alex Weerasekera". Ex-followers who have spoken out have been publicly shamed.
International Natural Energy Quinn was once a director and shareholder of energy company International Natural Energy (INE) in
Belize. In 2010, his estimated worth was €50 million. In November 2007, 40 days after Quinn hosted a 7-day Educo Seminar for the Cabinet of Belize on Caye Chapel, During the 2009 AGM for INE photographs of an ex-follower. who later sued Quinn for "assault and battery; allegedly obtaining money by false pretences; alleged fraudulent misrepresentation, intentional or careless infliction of mental suffering and suborning", and her teenage son were projected onto large screens. Quinn is reported to have adopted a "Messianic pose" and warned shareholders to not talk to journalists. A row within INE and subsidiary Belize Natural Energy (BNE) was reported ahead of the 2011 AGM of INE. Belize Prime Minister
Dean Barrow urged BNE to ensure oil flow not be disrupted. When the 3 March 2011 AGM was postponed at short notice, a group of investors held an emergency meeting where Marriott and McCaffrey spoke. McCaffrey said she was "practically destitute and penniless" since being removed as director. The meeting produced a petition calling for the appointment of a receiver for INE. INE had warned the group that the meeting was illegal. A member of Educo, Patricia Fitzpatrick, attempted to dissuade shareholders from attending the meeting and she was asked to leave when she attempted to attend the meeting as she was not a shareholder. In April 2011 the
Cabinet of Belize finalised the petroleum contract for
Orange Walk District to rival Maranco. Nevis, parent company for Maranco, was a shareholder in BNE. Maranco was affiliated with PR Marriott Drilling. In 2012, McCaffrey brought a lawsuit against Quinn and INE, alleging corporate mismanagement. The case was heard in the commercial division of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court which heard Quinn claim he had been followed for two years and feared he would be kidnapped and had asked INE for security; INE had paid $2 million in 2008–2010 on security and surveillance. Quinn claimed that Dialogue Ireland published information about his movements. He agreed with counsel that since the 1970s he had issues with Dialogue Ireland considering Mike Garde as a crank who had no effect on him, until he became involved with INE. Frank Walwyn, lawyer for McCaffrey, said Quinn had been accused of being a Cult leader for a long time before INE. The court heard that McCaffrey had been removed as Director of INE and her house was searched by Belize Police. She described the interim 5-year period as "a snapshot of the living hell". Quinn claimed a former-member, who was given permission by the
Irish High Court to serve a summons by post for a civil-claim against him, and her son had attempted to blackmail him by revealing details of Educo's inner-workings to the press. Quinn said he has a doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy when responding to questions if he had a PhD or called himself a doctor. A loan-release scheme had paid Quinn $1.6 million and Morrice $1.15 million the court heard. Quinn earned an additional $1.2 million from oil company staff attending his Educo Seminar. Payments had been made to some shareholders but other shareholders applications to the loan-release scheme had been refused. The court heard at the 2008 AGM photographs of McCaffrey and others had been projected onto large screens. Morrice denied $286,000 of shareholder money was paid to Henrima Ltd to put McCaffrey under surveillance and the funds were paid for counter-surveillance to understand who was providing information to journalists and posting to websites. Up to eight former soldiers were hired to provide protection for Quinn. Morrice claimed this was under advice from people she asked who recommended she use a company used by
Mary Robinson. Robinson has claimed she never used private security when she was president. It was revealed by
Sunday World in 2012 that they had seen a document produced by Henrima Ltd paid for by INE that was a "military-style intelligence file on a number of individuals" including Lalor, McCaffey, Cornec, Joe Duffy, Mike Garde and Nicola Tallant. BNE Chief Executive Dr Gilbert Canton told the court 40 staff members had attended the beginners Educo Seminar paying Quinn's companies $718,000 for the seminars and an additional $665,000 for Belize Educogyms since 2007. Mr Justice Bannister declined to dissolve the company or to order the company to purchase McCaffrey's shares, but granted a declaration that Quinn's appointment to the INE board was invalid and that McCaffrey's suspension from the INE board was invalid. In discussing the hiring of soldiers the judge said "Whatever may have been the need for some personal security, the expenditure was made in very large part for the purposes of Mr Quinn, who appears to have hired what amounted to a private army at the sole expense of INE". In 2012 Sunday World revealed McCaffrey had been included in an intelligence-report paid for by INE and produced by Henrima Ltd. In July 2012 Mr Justice
Gerard Hogan ordered Sunday World journalist Nicola Tallant and Dialogue Ireland director Mike Garde to appear in United States District Court for the District of Colorado to give evidence in the case and adjourned for a month to allow them to apply the orders to be set aside. The court heard how both were "party to communications relevant to the Colorado proceedings." It was claimed Tallant could be urged to reveal the sources for her stories. In October 2012 a
BBC Spotlight programme on the subject of the McCaffrey v Morrice, Quinn and INE case was broadcast. Morrice is the sole founder of INE to remain in position after Mike Usher died.
Educogym Quinn established Educogym, a chain of gyms in Ireland and one in Belize. Celebrity clients have included singer
Robbie Williams, soprano
Cara O'Sullivan, and golfer
Darren Clarke. Educogym promotes the Educo Model. Educogyms in
London,
Colorado and
Los Angeles have closed down. In 2009, Dr. Crionna Tobin, a PhD student under
Dublin City University's Professor Niall Moyna. stated the diet promoted by Educogym would make those undertaking it feel sick, saying it would starve the body. forcing it to operate only on fat, adding that the brain required carbohydrates. Educogym's head of marketing. Jamie Myerscough, said the diet programme was supported by university research but admitted to have never seen the research. In 2010, the
Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland upheld complaints about an advertisement featuring Educo member Ms Ashika Shah stating she had lost 31 pounds using a Quinn weight-loss programme. The authority was also critical of advertisements claiming supplements were available for arthritis, eczema and psoriasis. In 2015, Educogym was censured by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) for advertising a programme to lose 14 pounds in 12 days. The ASAI upheld the complaint that the advertisement "was misleading, as it was unsafe to suggest this weight could be lost in such a short time". The advertisement was withdrawn. In 2022, currently there is an Educogym operating in the capital city of Belmopan, Belize. ==Religious following==