Charity makes formal complaint to gardaí
The board of directors of the Irish Association of Suicidology held an emergency meeting in Dublin yesterday after discovering money missing from its accounts.
IAS secretary, Dr John Connolly, issued a statement afterwards confirming that it has also launched its own internal probe, which will focus on the conduct of one individual “over a short period of time.”
“An employee of the association has been suspended pending the completion of the internal investigation,” he said.
“Fair procedures will be applied by the association in its investigation and the association is committed to best HR practice and appropriate sensitivity in dealing with the circumstances of the case.
“On the advice of our legal advisers and our insurers, the matter has been reported to the gardaí.”
Dr Connolly declined to comment further pending the outcome of the investigations.
The full extent of the alleged irregularities have not been disclosed.
However, the amount of money involved is believed to be relatively small — possibly a few thousand euro — and will not affect the running, or the future, of the charity.
It is understood that the irregularities came to light in recent days as part of a routine internal audit.
The IAS was founded in 1996 by Dr Connolly, the late Dr Michael Kelleher and Limerick West TD Dan Neville, who is the president.
It provides a forum for all individuals and voluntary groups involved in suicidology to share their knowledge and experience of the issue.
The IAS also works with the Government and voluntary groups to develop and promote positive suicide prevention policies.
The late Dr Kelleher, who was a leading psychiatrist, was one of the Irish pioneers of research into suicidal behaviour.
His work led to the establishment of the National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork in Jan 1995, shortly after the decriminalisation of suicide in Ireland.
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