Gardaí in Co Carlow have interviewed present and former employees of Self Help International over allegations that the aid agency's computers were hacked into during a bitter dispute with former supporters.
The investigation comes as the Irish Farmers' Association has warned it may break a long-running association with the agency, which specialises in farmer-to-farmer aid in rural Africa.
A spokesman told The Irish Times the IFA was disappointed at the lack of progress in healing the rift within Self Help and warned that "time was running out" for a solution.
A motion calling on the IFA to dissociate itself from the beleaguered charity is expected to be tabled at a meeting of the farming body's national council later this month. Informed sources say it is likely to be passed.
For months, Self Help, which runs programmes in five African countries from its headquarters in Hacketstown, Co Carlow, has been at loggerheads with a group of dissident supporters who claim the agency spends too much on administration and is undemocratically run. Currently, two sets of directors each claim to be legally entitled to run the organisation.
An agreement to set up a compromise board composed of supporters of both sides appears to have unravelled, and the war of words between the two groups has been resumed.
George Jacob, communications officer of Self Help, said there had been an "unsuccessful" attempt by a small number of people to take over the agency and change its direction, but this was "entirely over".
The board had begun a review of strategy and governance and had appointed three new members, he said. These are Dr Jim Kinsella, a lecturer in rural development at UCD, Tom Corcoran, a former chairman of Glanbia and Joe Dwyer, chairman of Co Laois IFA.
So far this year, Self Help has received €2 million in State funding with another €800,000 due late this month.
Farmer support for the agency is not as important as it once was, he added. Last year, €270,000 out of total fundraising of €1.3 million came from IFA members.
Mick McCarthy, a spokesman for the dissident group, accused Self Help of failing to honour a compromise deal worked out several months ago. "It has proved impossible to deal with these people, who keep reneging on agreements."
The investigation by gardaí from Tullow station arose from a complaint made by Self Help last May, when chief executive Hilary McDonagh alleged that internal e-mails were being accessed outside the organisation.
The investigation is continuing.
