If you were watching last night's Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ One television, you might have seen a report by the RTÉ Investigations Unit, which cast a light on the Kerry-based Animal Heaven Animal Rescue (AHAR) charity.
The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) has taken issue with AHAR over various issues, including poor corporate governance and inadequate financial controls.
Today on Liveline, various callers who had contributed to the charity, and who are, and have been, involved directly, spoke to Joe Duffy. Included in those voices was one woman, former treasurer, Georgia Murray, who had originally brought her concerns about the running of AHAR to Liveline's attention last November.
But it was towards the end of the show that things got a little heated, as AHAR's current chairperson, Christine Zimmerman, took to the air.
In a statement obtained by the show, Christine had claimed the organisation was “having difficulties with former treasurers”, in the running of the organisation. But as she spoke to Joe, one of those treasurers, Georgia Murray, was on the other line. Admitting she never had any direct dealings with Georgia Murray, presenter Joe Duffy asked Christine:
“How can you put your name to a statement saying, 'we admit having difficulties with former treasurers', who you are now saying is directed specifically at Georgia Murray, the first person to blow the whistle on this charity back in November. How can you put your name to that, when you don’t know what you’re talking about, you are saying?”
Christine’s point was that any and all members of the executive committee were responsible for AHAR’s governance, so any allegations of impropriety need to be taken on board by those very people. In relation to Georgia Murray, Christine had this to say:
“She was part of the executive committee, as I’m saying. If you would listen properly, the CRA work with the executive committee to make compliance and governance.”
And as to the 'only person still standing', as Joe Duffy described AHAR's founder and manager, Suzanne Gibbons? “She was only a manager”, replied, Christine. And does she have Christine's complete support?
“I should think so. Of course she has.”
At this point, the Charities Regulatory Authority has put immediate sanctions in place to hold AHAR to account, and the current trustees of AHAR have accepted the CRA's notice.
The charity is now required to assign responsibility for keeping proper accounts to a person or persons with appropriate skills and experience. The CRA has also instructed the charity to introduce periodic financial reporting, listing its assets and liabilities, as well as details of income and expenditure.
If you missed the report by the RTÉ Investigations Unit on Claire Byrne Live last night, you can view it here.
And listen to today’s update on the Animal Heaven Animal Rescue charity, as heard on Liveline, click here.
Photo credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images