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A NUMBER OF people have spoken out against suicide awareness charity Console after details of financial irregularities emerged yesterday.
In light of work done by an RTÉ Investigates programme last night which delved into the finances of Console over the past number of years, founder and CEO Paul Kelly resigned.
The programme claimed that Kelly has a “history when it comes to misrepresentation and deception”.
The programme shows that, when applying for state grants and tax exemptions, the charity altered accounts to omit or edit references to directors’ pay and other benefits.
RTÉ also reports that the charity’s directors, from 2010 to early 2014, were made up of founder Kelly, his wife Patricia, a close family relative and, briefly, another immediate relative.
Under Revenue Commission rules, there should be “a minimum of three Officers, Trustees or Directors, who are not related and (are) independent of each other.”
“We feel left down”
Speaking today on RTÉ’s Liveline programme, a woman whose son had died by suicide and who had worked hard to raise funds for Console expressed her anger in the charity.
“I actually feel physically sick,” said the woman.
We feel totally let down. We were in shock yesterday… and obviously we’re all deeply upset over it.
The woman commended the counselling staff at Console, saying that they were “absolutely fantastic”.
“They’re absolutely fantastic staff and they’re dedicated to what they do,” she said.
This is not down the counsellors in the centre and they heard about this in the same way that we heard about this.
Bríd said that through fundraisers she and her family had conducted for Console they had raised somewhere in the region of €60,000 for the charity.
“That’s not including the advertising that we have done for Console around the country,” she said.
Bríd said that she had met Paul Kelly “eight or 10 times” and that she had “never seen anything wrong” with him.
Another man – Robert Davy – who said that he had lost a son to suicide, also spoke on the programme about meeting Kelly.
Davy said he had raised money for the charity in the past and echoed Bríd’s statements about the “fantastic” counselling service offered.
“They’re counselling service is fantastic… it’s just fantastic,” he said.
Following yesterday’s revelations about Console, the board has appointed external reviewers to conduct an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the charity.
The two reviewers are a forensic accountant Tom Murray, and David Hall, CEO of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation.
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Why is it left to the media to bring these irregularities to light. What are the revelant government apartments doing??.
Departments
Colluding,covering up…
Nothing. That’s the problem with many gov depts, they only react to problems, never actually go looking for chancers like Paul Kelly. It costs more in the long term to sort out the fallout and it also encourages other miscreants to try and do the same. We never progress, same sheeite over and over again.
The HSE have been actively investigating for years but they didn’t seem to have the guts or the willingness to pull the plug on the whole sham
The problem is Revenue and the Charity Regulatory Authority has very little legislative power to go after charities. The other issue is the cost of the investigation would in many cases be far greater than any penalties imposed.
Are the 11 thumbs down for incorrect spelling??.
The HSE and Health were alerted to financial irregularaties and miss appropiation of funds by an accountant and former staff member in 2006 & numerous times in 2009 and HSE didnt act . ClusterF…
Seriously, who cares about the moral outrage?
When’s he gonna be banged up and for how long?
He’s a crook.
End of.
absolutely appalling to leech from such a vital service!
But will Kelly go to prison ..not a chance.
Id be more concerned with families and friends of bereaved who raised and donated thousands to this ‘person’ … How they must feel !
its a pity the gov department that handed out the contract isn’t investigated also.
Mick…whomsoever gifted Mr Kelly any dubious contracts will – on the mere liklihood of being found out – be promoted way beyond his/her abilities.
Paul Kelly,John Tierney,Alex White,Phil Hogan,Hubert Kearns,Alan Kelly,Pat Rabbit…all selfless and altruistic patriots and superb citizens…..
What’s new. It’s why I don’t give cash to these charities . They earn more than me.
they are implicit peter but no-one will tell you….how do you think these people get contracts in the first place?
Another chancer who get off with a ban from being a director of a charity or registered company and thats it. What kind of a lesson would a proper punishment send out to our white collar criminals, white collar crime must be encouraged.
Can’t figure why background checks are not done on top people in Charities; they are done on all the workers. If Charities get Public funding why are there not proper checks on them. I blame the HSE and Governments. Someone has to be responsible here. All Charities should be scrutinised.
Is there any independent monitoring body that looks into these charities, if not then, it’s high time there was. It would appear that the HSE and other funding Agencies are reluctant to look under the carpet and see what might be questionable.
There is always one who can’t resist, they always have charisma and everyone has faith in them.
Caution people these types are hovering around BEWARE.
An air of confidence will get you anywhere, thst a sharp dress sense to make people think yiu can be trusted. Originally known as confidence tricksters the phrase was shortened to con man. I feel really sorry for genuine people who put their heart and soul into charity and seek no reward. The bledding hearts we have in society and the crooked phuqs in high society that Kelly has dirt will see he goes unpunished.
Was Frank Flannery or Angela Kerns involved at any stage of this farce.
Not sure , but some of these folk are politically appointed .. Enough said
I think this will really damage Revenue. They always in control but this time turn a blind eye
We Cannot Trust People to Behave with Honesty..Too Many Cheats have got away with abusing the Genorousity of People by Stealing Charity Money. (Greed & Corrupt)
have your say