Row deepens over chief’s dismissal

A MOTION of no confidence is to be tabled at a meeting of Dublin Simon Community as a row deepens over the dismissal of its chief executive.

The row, which has split the homeless charity, is gathering momentum, with supporters of dismissed chief executive Greg Maxwell planning to call an extraordinary general meeting to table a motion of no confidence in the charity’s board.

A spokesperson for the charity has confirmed former chairman Ray Watson resigned from the eight-member board last week. Mr Watson, a volunteer with Dublin Simon for nearly 20 years, is believed to have quit the volunteer-dominated board over Mr Maxwell’s treatment.

Mr Maxwell, a former high-profile trade unionist, was dismissed early last week having held the Dublin Simon top post for nine years.

He has warned he will take legal action to have his job back if the matter is not settled “internally”.

He said he has not been given a written explanation as to why his employment was terminated by the board or its chairman Ronnie Tucker.

Media queries to Dublin Simon are being referred to a communications company. The charity’s statement announcing Mr Maxwell’s termination said: “The board feels that a different skill set is required of the chief executive for the organisation to progress effectively over the coming years.”

An independent review of Dublin Simon by social policy consultant Simon Brooke last March highlighted the need for the organisation to meet changing circumstances.

He drew attention to the growing difficulty in recruiting volunteers and the level of “professionalism” expected from charities.

Sam McGuinness, announced as Dublin Simon interim chief executive, is a former chief executive of the Galway-based software development company Storm Technology. He has also been a senior executive with Irish Life and the former Digital Technology company.