“I am sick” – Former Console fundraisers speak out in light of fraud allegations

Following last week’s RTÉ investigates entitled ‘Broken Trust’ it came to light that the founders of the leading Irish suicide charity Console had been deceiving its funders.

Console CEO Paul Kelly, his wife and his son spent close to €500,000 of donated money in a three year period on lavish holidays, meals out, dental work, designer clothes and groceries. Alongside a combined salary for the three of almost €500,000 between 2012-2014. These revelations came to light following a HSE audit of the company when credit card bills were presented to auditors. In total 11 credit cards were used between the trio to pay for holidays to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and other destinations. Paul Kelly had two credit cards in his name and two other credit cards in the name of an employee that had left the charity six years previous. In 2014 he was awarded a ‘People of the year award’ alongside Panti Bliss, where he was commended for

“Challenging the perceptions of suicide and having the resolve to create the first dedicated suicide prevention and support services in Ireland.”

Paul Kelly has since stepped down as the CEO of the charity and currently denies allegations of mismanagement and poor governance. Following the investigation, two former fundraisers for Console spoke to Her.ie to tell us how shocked they are with the alleged fraudulent activities of the former CEO. Gareth O’ Callahan is an Irish author, radio presenter and former television personality who has worked as a front line supporter and as the public face for Console. He is deeply saddened about the revelations and has some serious questions he would like Mr Kelly to address.

“ I am sick from what I’ve been reading in recent days and it’s only now that I am finding strength to write about it in order to lend my support to the real Console team, namely its counselors and its admin teams and managers.

Many people I met during that time had lost loved ones in these indescribably tragic circumstances. Their loss was an open wound that no amount of time will ever heal.

Paul Kelly became my hero, like he did for so many people. His sister Sharon’s death by suicide was the seed that saw Console grow into what it quickly became.

What you have done Paul Kelly is literally unthinkable. You lost sight of those who believed in you- the faceless individuals who you have been taking money from for years.

What about your sister Paul? You cried for her loss and your loneliness the morning we first met. What happened since then? Here’s a question for you  Paul. Sleep on this one tonight if you can: Can greed really make you take advantage of someone who feels so lost and misunderstood that they feel that death is more preferable to the pain of life?”

  Pat Divilly a former Console Ambassador who has raised in the region of  €50,000 for the charity is sickened by the HSE audits find yet he remains adamant that this will not deter his trust in charities.

“When I became ambassador for Console I brought a group of 300+ people to an adventure race to fund raise money and we brought in the region of €30,000 for the charity. It had been discussed that this money would fund the renovation of a 'comfort home' for bereaved families to take some time out after the death of a loved one.

I visited the house and was excited to see the progress after we handed over the money but to the best of my knowledge that never happened. I also celebrated my 28th birthday by running an online weight loss course at the price of €28 which brought in over €20,000 for the charity in 24 hours.

I'm sickened to see that the money I was proud to hand over probably didn't get to services or resources where it was needed. I'm gutted for my group of 300+ people who ran that adventure race and the 800+ who took part in the online course with charitable donation. It's a slap in the face but we'll keep looking at ways of making a difference.”