# Mismanagement allegations lead to new regulatory powers in Ireland

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/07/05/mismanagement-allegations-lead-new-regulatory-powers-ireland/
- Published: 2016-07-05T23:05:43+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**New powers to enable the Charities Regulator in Ireland to investigate financial
mismanagement in charities will come into effect by early September following the
recent controversy around Irish suicide counselling charity Console.**

The new powers will deal with investigation and also the manner in which charities
raise money. This will regulate face-to-face fundraising and charities partnering
in commercial activities in return for a small proportion of the income. These regulations
are currently going through a process of consultation.

[Console ](http://console.ie/more-about-console/)has been accused of mismanagement
and diversion of charitable assets for personal gain. In particular, Paul Kelly,
who established the charity following the death of his sister, and his family have
allegedly used charitable funds for personal expenditure on clothes, travel and 
expensive cars.  According to an [interim financial report](http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/console-audit-reveals-remarkable-details-of-spending-by-nun-1.2709300),
Mr Kelly spent €252,254.62 on credit cards over the three years, €128,168.53 of 
which was in the name of a nun who was a former employee.

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Console had income of €5 million between 2012 and 2014, of which the Health Service
Executive (HSE) provided €1.4 million, with the rest coming from donations and fundraising.
Last year, [Console UK](http://www.consolecounselling.co.uk) was launched in the
House of Lords and has attracted support from the family of Gary Speed, the footballer
who took his own life in 2011. Queens Park Rangers has also supported the charity.

The UK operations of Console are run by Tim Kelly, the son of the founder of Console
in Ireland.

 * **[House of Lords committee further examines the role of charities in civil society](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/10/house-lords-committee-examines-role-charities-civil-society/)**(
   10 October 2016)
 * **[Third edition of Charities Acts Handbook published](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/12/06/third-edition-charities-acts-handbook-published/)**(
   6 December 2016)
 * **[Charity board makes donations to cover funding shortfall](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/12/23/charity-board-makes-donations-to-cover-funding-shortfall/)**(
   23 December 2019)

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