Threat to call gardaí on Roebuck client over refund plea

A woman who went to Roebuck Consulting Ltd in Rathgar, Dublin yesterday to ask for a refund of fees for a counselling course was told she was disrupting the centre and that gardaí would be called.

Grainne Leach, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, sought counselling at the centre three years ago to cope with the loss of her arm in an accident. She completed two years of a three-year counsellor training course paying €8,500 in fees.

When news broke last week that Roebuck staff had requested large sums of money from clients she heard the course was being cancelled and decided to seek a refund.

Ms Leach contacted a counsellor at the centre, Claire Hoban, over the weekend, informing her of this decision but received no reply.

"I went up to see a director of the centre, Jack Milton, about the refund and was told by a receptionist to wait in the waiting room. Claire Hoban came in and was very aggressive saying I was disrupting the house and that the gardaí had said to contact her if there was any disruption."

"I was not causing disruption. I was just trying to get my money back," said Ms Leach. "I am sickened by her behaviour".

Ms Leach has since delivered a solicitor's letter to Roebuck Consulting Ltd, informing them that she will issue legal proceedings if her funds are not returned within seven days. She is one of a number of people who it is understood are considering or have already taken legal cases against the company.

The Irish Timestried to contact Bernie Purcell, the director of the centre, for a response yesterday but was unsuccessful.

The continuing controversy around the centre highlights the lack of regulation in the industry, the Fine Gael spokesman with special responsibility for mental health has said.

Dan Neville TD said yesterday it was a "disgrace" that there is no statutory regulation of therapists and counsellors.

The statement came after revelations that a member of staff at Roebuck had sought sums of up to €250,000 from people who originally attended for counselling.

Mr Neville said the Roebuck case, where a counsellor threatened that "intimate, shaming details" about the lives of former clients would be revealed, showed vulnerable people were at risk from unregulated counsellors and therapists.

"One does not need a recognised qualification or skill base to call oneself a psychoanalyst or a counsellor. All that is required is a premises, a gold plaque outside the door and the neck to charge the fee," added Mr Neville, who is also president of the Irish Association of Suicidology.

Des Martin, who gave almost €250,000 to Roebuck over the period of a year, has set up Sore (Survivors of Roebuck Experiences), a support group for anyone affected by the centre. Sore can be contacted on 086 363 8404.