By: Michael O’Farrell, Valerie HanleyÂ
A BOARD member of the charity regulator has resigned after her own charity, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, had to delay lodging up-to-date accounts.
The resignation of ABII chief Barbara O’Connell from the Government’s charity watchdog comes weeks after an Irish Mail on Sunday investigation revealed her topup salary payments and other concerns at the HSE-funded charity.
Now as part of a move to get value for money for taxpayers the HSE is considering amalgamating the charity – which Ms O’Connell confirmed operated at a deficit for the past three years – with other One similar charities.
This follows the MoS revealing in August how Acquired Brain Injury Ireland CEO Barbara O’Connell was paid an additional €10,000 allowance on top of her €116,541 salary while her staff were forced to accept pay cuts.
This five-figure annual allowance was approved by the ABII board and Ms O’Connell insisted it was not a top-up payment even though it saved her public sector-linked salary from being reduced.
The MoS also revealed how Ms O’Connell spent €2,328 on a shopping spree in New York using the charity’s credit card. This was despite it being strictly forbidden to use company funds for personal purchases. She later refunded the money.
In a statement to the MoS this weekend, Ms O’Connell confirmed she had resigned from the Charities Regulatory Authority but refused to comment further or explain why. She stated: ‘I recently informed the Chair of the Charities Regulatory Authority of my decision to step down from the Board of the CRA with immediate effect and I will not be commenting on this matter further.’
ABII chairman Diarmaid Ó Corrbuà stated: ‘ABI Ireland is meeting with the HSE on the 22nd of November after which the board will meet to review the future funding of the organisation.
‘The finalisation of the organisation’s 2015 accounts has been delayed until this meeting as clarity regarding our 2017 funding is a critical matter. The Charities Regulator, the HSE and the Minister for Health have been made aware of this.’ The statements came after the CRA, funded by the taxpayer to ensure charities are transparent in how they spend donations, decided not to confirm Ms O’Connell’s departure.
A spokesman said: ‘It would be inappropriate for the Charities Regulator to comment on the membership of its own board.’
Asked what engagement ABII had with the CRA over the previous MoS revelations, Ms O’Connell said: ‘The CRA requested information from ABI Ireland in relation to a number of matters which was provided. We have been informed by the CRA that they are satisfied with information and responses received to their queries and the CRA have no outstanding issues.’
The CRA spokesman said: ‘The regulator does not comment or speculate on any alleged concerns against a charitable organisation as to do so could prejudice any potential future investigation or court proceedings.’ Meanwhile, the MoS has learned the HSE wants ABII to merge with two other charities that provide a similar service.
A source familiar with the plan revealed: ‘After the stories appeared in the Irish Mail on Sunday the ABII met with officials from the Department of Health and Disability and Minister Finian McGrath.
‘At the meeting officials and the minister were adamant that there would have to be rationalisation… they were adamant that continued support… and funding from the HSE was predicated on ABII entering into an amalgamation with two other charities that provide similar services.’
Mr Ó Corrbuà confirmed last night ABII were discussing with the HSE a proposal to merge with two other charities. A HSE spokeswoman said there were ‘ongoing discussions with ABII and other organisations’.
‘This is about enabling services to work better together in order to deliver services to people with disabilities in a sustainable way into the future,’ she said.
