Cavan activist complains to charity regulator after name used by former Console CEO

“I was among several names that Paul Kelly listed on a HSE document as being as being on Console’s management some years ago. He did so without our consent. I have never been involved with the management of Console,” Cootehill-native, Ruairí McKiernan told The Anglo-Celt last week.

A member of President Michael D. Higgins’ most-trusted Council of State, Mr McKiernan has said he is “saddened and angered” by the ongoing allegations of fraud and corruption at the embattled charity.

Mr McKiernan is understood to have first become aware that his name was being used by Console and Mr Kelly when contacted by members of the media in the fallout of an ‘RTÉ Investigates’ programme, which revealed a range of irregularities at the charity.

Spending at Console, which received around €12m in nine years through State grants and public fundraising, is under severe scrutiny after it was discovered that up to €500,000 was used to finance trips to New Zealand and Australia.

Mr McKiernan, who also founded the young person’s support group Spunout.ie, said: “It appears that Paul Kelly was using people’s good names to build credibility and trust with his funders as part of the disgraceful web of delusion that he has spun for so many years. It now appears that concerns were raised about Paul Kelly as far back as 1990 when RTÉ did an investigation into his previous charity.

“I have worked in the charity sector in different ways for about 15 years. I know that most people aren’t very well paid at all, salaries are below public and private rates and all directors are required to be unpaid. Often charities are powered by the incredible levels of volunteer support that help them. This is why it is so upsetting that the good work of thousands of charities is now up for question,” he added.

A HSE audit claims that Console paid its directors €215,000 in contravention of the regulations, which govern charities and charity regulator John Farrelly has now summoned Console founder Paul Kelly and other former directors to account for such matters.

Mr Kelly resigned as chief executive last week, while two directors, his wife Patricia and sister Joan McKenna, also stepped down.

If Console loses its charity status, it will be a matter for the Revenue Commissioners to pursue any outstanding financial liabilities.

But Mr McKiernan told the Celt that he hopes people don’t lose confidence in the work of many charitable organisations operating in Ireland, while calling on the government to provide additional powers and resources to the charity regulator to carry out their work.

“I’d love to see a situation where we have less reliance on so many charities and instead have decent public services as is the norm elsewhere. For now charities play a crucial and often heroic role in holding the fabric of this country together. It is easy to become cynical and lose faith but it’s important not to. If decent charities suffer, then the people who rely on their services will suffer too. As for Console, my thoughts are with the staff, clients and genuine supporters of the organisation, which is now under new management. I really hope the authorities get to the bottom of this fast and that there are real consequences for any abuses of power,” Mr McKiernan concluded.