Parents concerned over money in Ulster branch of swimming association

The group representing concerned parents and victims of the jailed Olympic swimming coach Derry O'Rourke has expressed disquiet over the movement of substantial amounts of money within the Ulster branch of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association. It is believed that the Ulster branch has more than £200,000 in an account in Belfast, which in recent months was moved to secure it from any attempts from the IASA to sequestrate the funds. Neither the Northern Ireland Sports Council nor the Ulster branch swimming office would make any comment.

Since the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, stopped all funding to the swimming organisation, which governs the four provinces, the IASA has claimed to be in financial ruin. The association has curtailed expenditure on swimming camps and international trips, and has deferred the appointment of a child protection officer, which it says it cannot afford.

It is the failure to make that appointment which has angered the parents' and victims' group, since it is now more than eight months since O'Rourke was jailed for 12 years on child sex-abuse charges.

Since then, the IASA has said the appointment of a child protection officer was on top of its agenda. It claims it had advertised for the position but was forced to put it on hold when the funds were withdrawn.

"Any section of the IASA that has money like that should make it available for the immediate appointment of the child protection officer and to educate officials about the nature of child abuse," said a spokesperson for the group.

"Since February we have been pressing the IASA and each time they have said that they don't have the money to appoint a protection officer. Now we discover this money may be sitting in a bank account in Belfast." According to the minutes of an Ulster Council meeting, dated July 22nd, the issue of moving the funds to "safety" was debated among Ulster branch officers.

"Dr Wyatt [president] said that he would like to update the branch with concerns about Ulster branch funds. He had agreed to have an executive meeting to discuss the way forward. Because of concerns which were voiced by Mr D. Campbell and Mr J. Anderson, there was a proposal to set up a separate account and move funds into it for safety. There was felt to be a degree of urgency to do this," report the minutes. They say the funds were moved to a different account in the belief that the pa rent body, the IASA, would look for a slice given its difficulties.

Mr Wally Clarke, the IASA treasurer, attended the Ulster branch meeting and Ms Mary O'Malley, president of the IASA, addressed it at the beginning. According to the minutes, Ms O'Malley stated that "under no circumstances would Ulster be asked for any of their funds".

When contacted, Ms O'Malley said: "I wouldn't know exactly what Ulster branch would have. You would have to ask their treasurer." She added that the Ulster branch was not funded by the Irish Sports Council, but by the Northern Ireland Sports Council. She also said branches were autonomous and independent.

The Ulster branch swimming office in Belfast would not comment and referred queries to the Northern Ireland Sports Council. Mr Conn O'Callaghan of the council said: "If you want anything confirmed, you have to ask the swimming office."

Ulster (nine counties) is affiliated to the IASA and provides about one-third of its members.