Paul Kelly, whose resignation as chief executive of the Console suicide charity was announced last week, has told staff he remains at the helm of the organisation.
Mr Kelly, who founded Console, resigned last Thursday following controversy over funds governance at the charity. The board of Console said it had accepted his decision to step down and announced the appointment of two outsiders to review the issues raised in a recent Health Service Executive (HSE) audit and an RTÉ investigation of the charity.
Mr Kelly turned up at the charity’s office in Celbridge yesterday and told staff it was “business as usual,” according to informed sources.
A spokesman for the HSE, which funds most of Console’s services, said it was “not clear” who was speaking for the charity. He pointed out no formal appointments had been made to replace Mr Kelly and two family members whose resignations as directors were also announced last week.
Three directors remain on the board but sources say the individuals involved were “hands-off” up to now and have not been closely involved in the running of the charity since their appointment two years ago. The three directors met yesterday and confirmed the appointment of the two external investigators.
Attempts yesterday to contact Mr Kelly, who has denied the allegations of mismanagement and poor governance, were unsuccessful. Sources described the situation at the charity as “intense” and “difficult” .
The office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has asked for a copy of a highly critical HSE audit of the charity with a view to investigating governance standards.
A meeting between the external reviewers and the Charities Regulator, John Farrelly, was deferred yesterday. Mr Farrelly has written to the charity seeking assurances from the trustees that it is in compliance with the charities acts in the light of recent revelations.
His intervention comes amid widespread concerns about a further loss of trust in the charity sector that could result from continuing controversy over Console.
A statement issued last Thursday on behalf of Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Limited said the board of Console had accepted Mr Kelly’s decision to “step down”. It also noted the resignation of his wife and sister, Patricia Kelly and Joan McKenna, as directors but did not say who was now running the organisation.
The statement announced the appointment of forensic accountant Tom Murray and businessman David Hall to review the organisation within 60 days.
The HSE, which provided more than €2.5 million to the organisation over recent years, is expected to review funding arrangements on foot of the audit it has conducted. The 229-page document contains 89 recommendations.
