Confusion surrounds which charity Tim Allen has been ordered to pay his €40,000 donation to in the wake of his child pornography conviction.
District Court Judge Michael Pattwell directed him to make a donation to the Edith Wilkins Hope Foundation when he appeared in court on Thursday. Ms Wilkins undertakes what the judge described as a Mother Teresa-type operation for orphaned street children in Calcutta, many of whom are involved in prostitution.
Ms Wilkins has founded two charities which work with street children in Calcutta and yesterday spokespersons for both said there was uncertainty over which one was going to receive Allen's donation.
Ms Wilkins set up the Hope Foundation, a charity which helps disadvantaged children, in India in 1999. However, she resigned as head of the charity over a year ago and founded another charity, the Street Children of Calcutta. She said yesterday the Allen money will have a "phenomenal impact" on her work in India. She said it will be spent on a new shelter which is being built for sexually-abused children in Calcutta. Ms Wilkins also has an adopted family of over 20 children.
A spokesperson for the Cork-based Hope Foundation, headed by Ms Maureen Forrest, said they want clarification about which charity Judge Pattwell had in mind for Allen's donation. "If the money is earmarked for us, then we will have to think long and hard about whether to accept it."
A spokesman for the Allen family said yesterday that details are being finalised on the donation. However, he claimed children in Calcutta will benefit from the cash irrespective of which charity is allocated the money.
Ms Wilkins told RTÉ radio yesterday she felt dreadfully sorry for the Allen family. "Our children here would actually pray for them," she said. She believed Allen suffered from "a dreadful illness".