HSE paid Console €20,000 for ‘vital services’ in past week

Suicide prevention charity Console has received up to €20,000 from the Health Service Executive in the past week "to sustain vital services".

HSE director general Tony O'Brien told RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke it would not "pull the plug" on the organisation's funding unless Console indicated it could not continue to provide services.

“Our aim is to ensure the continuation of the services,” said Mr O’Brien. “We have been in discussion with Console about the provision of services. We have continued to fund them, up to €20,000 in the past week, to sustain vital services.”

Mr O’Brien’s comments follow news that two company cars used by former Console boss Paul Kelly and his wife Patricia were sold for €23,000. The vehicles were auctioned at Wilsons Auctions on the Naas Road on Tuesday evening with a 2009 Mercedes CLS making €11,000 and a 2010 Audi Q5 selling for €12,000. The cars were taken into possession by the interim chief executive of Console David Hall last week.

Valuable services

Mr O’Brien said the HSE did not have regulatory powers over charities but he was satisfied the funding provided in the past week was being used for valuable services.

Mr O’Brien rejected a suggestion that the HSE was too slow to react to a whistleblower who raised concerns about the charity and how funds were being spent. At no point did HSE funding to Console exceed 43 per cent, he said.

“There has been a very thorough audit...By all accounts the services provided were valued by clients. Our primary concern is about services.

“We have contingency plans which we will put in place if Console say they can no longer provide them....The great tragedy is that the people who volunteered and provided a great service at Console feel they were betrayed.”

The Console board is set to meet in Dublin at 7pm on Wednesday to decide on the future of the charity.

Mr Hall will present a report outlining the options available to the charity, its financial situation and its business functionality in future.

The High Court on Tuesday approved the continuation of orders freezing the assets of Console for a further week. The court heard it was also hoped agreement could be reached between lawyers for Console and the Kellys about allowing them living expenses from their accounts, all of which have been frozen, pending the determination of the case against them.